LGL: China Will Remain Dominant(English Subbed)

[zeio]

[caption]
The 2018 ITTF Team World Cup is right upon us
Liu Guoliang took the chance to analyze the prospect for the CNT
Noting the challenges waiting ahead of us
And identified those potential players of whom we should be most vigilant
[/caption]

我還是相信中國隊能贏的
但是在局部的場次和打法之間
如果處理不好的話，會有一些反覆
I still believe China can win
It's just that in between isolated matchups and styles
That if mishandled, there could be some relapses

中國隊還是有絕對的實力
只要自己不出現問題的時候
我們還是可以統治的
China still possesses the absolute strength
so long as there is nothing wrong with ourselves
We will continue to dominate

如果說到現有的這些運動員對乒乓球的熱愛和理解的話，我覺得馬龍
還是馬龍，目前來看是最強的
他能夠把他的能力百分之一百，或者有時說，百分之一百一都有可能發揮出來
In terms of passion for and comprehension of table tennis
among the current athletes,
I feel that Ma Long...Ma Long still remains the strongest as of this moment
He is capable of bringing out 100% of his ability
and sometimes, even 110% could be possible

那樊振東，其實他的技術實力不會在馬龍之下
但是在大賽裏邊為什麼他每次輸給馬龍
這就是說，閱讀比賽的能力，對乒乓球理解的能力
As for Fan Zhendong, his technical strength is actually on par with that of Ma long
But how come he loses to Ma Long in the majors every single time
It boils down to the ability to read the game and the comprehension of table tennis

這個很難跟大家解釋清楚
就是說，唉，他是不是經驗不足，是不是什麼什麼
他不是那樣的，它瞬息萬變
這一秒中，馬龍想什麼，他馬上，樊振東就要知道
下一秒中，他會想什麼，他在哪等着他，一步、兩步、三步、還是五步
所以這個上邊兒，任何的教練、運動員都很難完全掌控，在場上戰局的這種把控
It's hard to explain to the general public
Like, is it his lack of experience, or this, or that
It's not. Table tennis is fast-changing
Right this second, what's on Ma Long's mind, Fan has to know immediately
In the next second, what'd be on his mind, where'd he be waiting, 1 step, 2 steps, 3 steps, or 5 steps
In this respect, it's very difficult for coaches and athletes to have complete control of the tide on the court

德國隊他們的世界排名超過了我們，我一點也不擔心
但是說，張本智和，他在現有的年齡段取得這樣的比賽成績，和對乒乓球的這個熱愛
單純從打球上來說，我們現在同年齡的運動員，跟他打是沒有優勢
他將是最大的一個變數
因為，張本智和呢，他可能最大的閃光點不一定是在東京
應該是在巴黎，下一屆
下一屆我認為肯定是張本的最顛峰的一個狀態
但是，當然，我只站在中國隊教練的角度去考慮
日本的教練有沒有這個能力把他帶到最高水平，不好說
Germany has surpassed us in world ranking, but I'm not the least bit worried
On the other hand, Tomokazu Harimoto, given his accomplishments in his age group, and his passion for table tennis
Purely from the aspect of playing, our athletes of the same age would have no advantage against him
He is going to be the biggest variable
Because for Harimoto, his greatest moment will probably not be Tokyo
but Paris, the one after
The one after, I think will definitely be Harimoto's prime
However, I'm merely thinking from the standpoint of China
Whether the Japanese coaches will be able to bring him to the highest level, that's another story

 

[TTHopeful]

This is gold!! Thank you

 

[tropical]

Very well said LGL! Especially comments about Harimoto.

 

[Andyzhao123]

I cannot thank you enough for this...

 

[WorkerBee]

I would like to see what GuoLiang has to say about some other evolutions in table tennis. He needs to deal with the future where Tomo has risen to the top(he says by 2024, but I think it will be a bit earlier). It will depend upon the Chinese kids learning the Tomo tactics and it being taught on a mass scale in China, not just in Japan and internationally. The current Chinese dominance depends upon size, so they will remain dominant for a few years, but this will change. I'd love to hear what he says about that. He is a smart m.f. I suspect he will figure something out, along with Tomo's dad, something where tactics evolves.

 

[talbon]

^ lol

 

[jamesmith]

No wonder he is the best Chinese coach, what he said is very honest and accurate.

 

[drunix80]

LGL knows CNT in and out. So, when he says Harimoto is the biggest threat for CNT, it is really something. Harimoto may not be able to get past FZD as of now but who knows after 2-3 years. I just hope Harimoto settles down his high octane style of cheering for his own good and concentrates on being a smooth operator.

 

[yogi_bear]

The CNT will continue to adapt with their younger players.

 

[jamesmith]

I am not sure]Harimoto is the biggest threat for CNT. At the moment he is playing vry well but not good enough to beat the top 4 or 5 Chinese player, in the future , it is hard to say because there are many good players in China, God knows suddenly , China may have another new strong players.

 

[ttdgfg]

You dont have to be LGL to be able to make such statement or prediction about dominance. If the chinese players are in form there is no threat from anyone.

 

[Atas Newton]

You dont have to be LGL to be able to make such statement or prediction about dominance

obviously. But you'd have to be Liu Guoliang to know what you're talking about ;-) Ok, maybe not him but someone knowing ins and outs about CNT. Notice how he honestly admits they don't have anyone to reliably beat Tomo in his age group. Best we can do is speculate if there's some youngster in some provincial team who could do that.

 

[lugi2000]

Liu Guoliang is in a table tennis tracksuit, is he still part of the team in any way?

 

[zeio]

Liu Guoliang is in a table tennis tracksuit, is he still part of the team in any way?

Good question.

He is officially with the CTTA now, a civilian organization that is functionally separate from the Table Tennis & Badminton Sports Management Center, the de facto governmental organ that is in charge of the CNT.

 

[ttdgfg]

obviously. But you'd have to be Liu Guoliang to know what you're talking about ;-) Ok, maybe not him but someone knowing ins and outs about CNT. Notice how he honestly admits they don't have anyone to reliably beat Tomo in his age group. Best we can do is speculate if there's some youngster in some provincial team who could do that.

Well does not really matter much on his age group(right now)and since they play on international stage even more. China will continue to dominate in men(very small window for surprise to happen), and especially women tabletennis.

 

[WorkerBee]

I feel that China could share dominance with Japan and Germany for 30 years if everyone learns the Tomo tactics and brings back the Waldner tactics while using the basic Chinese cloud-walking. By share I mean all three could have 2 or 3 players in the top 6, and rotate championships, which would be really nice. Listen to GuoLiang, he knows from whence he speaks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Ri4wgaJPQ

 

[lugi2000]

I feel that China could share dominance with Japan and Germany for 30 years if everyone learns the Tomo tactics and brings back the Waldner tactics while using the basic Chinese cloud-walking. By share I mean all three could have 2 or 3 players in the top 6, and rotate championships, which would be really nice. Listen to GuoLiang, he knows from whence he speaks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Ri4wgaJPQ

The game has moved on a lot since the Waldner era. The plastic ball has took out creativity and forced everyone to play similar due to the lack of spin and variation.

 

[WorkerBee]

The game has moved on a lot since the Waldner era. The plastic ball has took out creativity and forced everyone to play similar due to the lack of spin and variation.

If you watch the Chinese Super League, and other leagues too, you can see tons of spin, variation, and creativity. And the Waldner tactics apply directly to the modern game with the plastic ball. Xu Xin is still deadly with his spin and variation. And Fan Zhendong's serve is still amazing.

 

[Milan Nemec]

Ton of spin, variation and creativity:

That is nice, but there is only one style of play competitive at the top level - two-sided topspin attack with short movements close to the table, with BH-banana flick opening. BH-dominant. Even a Ma Long has to play more BH that FH.

Everything else is just a variation of this style, there are no new players with different styles at top20 level, I will name a few players with very distinctive, immediately recogniseable styles, what new player has the same style?

Applegren half-distance soft play
Kreanga half-distance power play
RSM Jpen FH power play
Ma Lin Cpen with BH-sidespin blocks and pushing
JSH modern defence - maybe Ma Te is the only relatively new defender able of top20 level
Waldner/Samsonov BH-flat block/punch/smash and VH-topspin
BH-short pips
...

Yes, you can see e.g. half-distance "fishing" play or blocking, but it is just a temporary solution of a difficult situation, there is no such dedicated style which could be competetive at top20 level.

So IMHO there is only one plastic ball style which is much more effective than everything else.

 

[WorkerBee]

Ton of spin, variation and creativity:

That is nice, but there is only one style of play competitive at the top level - two-sided topspin attack with short movements close to the table, with BH-banana flick opening. BH-dominant. Even a Ma Long has to play more BH that FH.

Everything else is just a variation of this style, there are no new players with different styles at top20 level, I will name a few players with very distinctive, immediately recogniseable styles, what new player has the same style?

Applegren half-distance soft play
Kreanga half-distance power play
RSM Jpen FH power play
Ma Lin Cpen with BH-sidespin blocks and pushing
JSH modern defence - maybe Ma Te is the only relatively new defender able of top20 level
Waldner/Samsonov BH-flat block/punch/smash and VH-topspin
BH-short pips
...

Yes, you can see e.g. half-distance "fishing" play or blocking, but it is just a temporary solution of a difficult situation, there is no such dedicated style which could be competetive at top20 level.

So IMHO there is only one plastic ball style which is much more effective than everything else.

I would add the ability of Tomokazu to undercut the footwork of big loopers. If you constantly aim to prevent the wide foot placement of a big looper, up to the cloud-walkers, you have weakened the possibilities of your opponent. This is what GuoLiang is talking about, that Tomo is right now developing the style where none of his players will be able to overcome him in a few years. This is a new style that GuoLiang has not figured out yet. I keep telling him. but he doesn't listen (HaHa), that he has to incorporate the Waldner tactics along with the Tomo tactics in China as a whole to maintain Chinese dominance. I like your listing of the dominant styles. I would just add the Tomo style and the cloud-walker style of the current monsters (both distinctive and immediately recognizable). I think GuoLiang is correct on the future because the Tomo style is specially designed to defeat the cloud-walker style. By the way, the cloud-walker style depends on forcing the rally to back up the two players beyond the 5 foot distance beyond the table, and the Tomo style depends on never backing away and always staying within 3 feet of the table. Incidentally, the reason I think the Waldner style is so important is because it consciously says you must move from one distance to the other. This is also why Waldner maintained his world position from aged 18 to aged 50. It relies mainly on the brain, and is far less hard on the body. I have huge faith that GuoLiang will figure this out since he has the most intimate knowledge of Jan Ove's tactics.