2019 Asian Cup April 5-7

[Zaid323918]

i second that

 

[yoass]

Not for me to tell Koki Niwa what to do.

However, I don’t get the supposed necessity of having to beat everybody. There’s plenty room and plenty value for top players outside the top 3.

 

[RidTheKid]

Exactly, therefore his reaction is also somewhat overly dramatic. Either you accept the situation or you change it.

Not for me to tell Koki Niwa what to do.

However, I don’t get the supposed necessity of having to beat everybody. There’s plenty room and plenty value for top players outside the top 3.

 

[usualsuspect]

Not for me to tell Koki Niwa what to do.
However, I don’t get the supposed necessity of having to beat everybody. There’s plenty room and plenty value for top players outside the top 3.

That's not how top athletes think. Normal people think 2nd place or 3rd place is great achievement, but top athletes only want gold.
I remember what Wang Nan (one of the best female CNT player) said in an interview when asked about winning silver medal in singles in 2004 Olympic. She said that was the worst loss in her life. It took her 6 months to mentally recover. When asked why she cares so little for the silver medal, Wang Nan said there's no difference between the 2nd place or the 13th & 14th place. You are either the best or you are nothing.

 

[zeio]

The JNT has decided to withdraw the XD entry of Harimoto/Ishikawa at the upcoming WTTC.

M. Yoshimura/Ishikawa will replace them.

https://oes.ittf.com/view/event/entries/e33449f4-4cc0-4383-b6a2-d151aa14e33c/detail#ent_JPN

 

[zeio]

FZD actually addressed that question in a recent interview. I'm still thinking whether I should sub it...because it's long.

Here it is. Patrons will get early access. Post will be available for all a week later, on Apr 7th.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/fan-zhen-dong-wo-25988708

 

[NextLevel]

Exactly, therefore his reaction is also somewhat overly dramatic. Either you accept the situation or you change it.

Again, he was playing in Japan in front of his people against a Chinese player and was embarrassed by his performance. This context is missing when evaluating his statement.

 

[NextLevel]

That's not how top athletes think. Normal people think 2nd place or 3rd place is great achievement, but top athletes only want gold.
I remember what Wang Nan (one of the best female CNT player) said in an interview when asked about winning silver medal in singles in 2004 Olympic. She said that was the worst loss in her life. It took her 6 months to mentally recover. When asked why she cares so little for the silver medal, Wang Nan said there's no difference between the 2nd place or the 13th & 14th place. You are either the best or you are nothing.

Wang Nan is on the short list for the greatest female players of all time. Koki Niwa is not on the short list for the greatest Japanese players of all time. Apples and oranges.

 

[RidTheKid]

Again, he was playing in Japan in front of his people against a Chinese player and was embarrassed by his performance. This context is missing when evaluating his statement.

Do we know this for a fact?

Skickat från min SM-G930F via Tapatalk

 

[NextLevel]

Do we know this for a fact?

Skickat från min SM-G930F via Tapatalk

What part of my statement is not factual? That he would have been less embarrassed if he was playing this match in Hong Kong?

 

[RidTheKid]

That because he was playing in Japan made it a worse loss? Did he say that or is that something you conclude? I'm not saying you are wrong but I don't think this is the first time Ma Long has beat Niwa on Japanese soil. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

What part of my statement is not factual? That he would have been less embarrassed if he was playing this match in Hong Kong?

 

[usualsuspect]

Wang Nan is on the short list for the greatest female players of all time. Koki Niwa is not on the short list for the greatest Japanese players of all time. Apples and oranges.

I honestly believe that you need to have the highest expectation on yourself in order to be in the top 20 in the world. I don't think Niwa got to his current world ranking by accident. He might seem like he doesn't care, but he must care very deeply.

 

[NextLevel]

I honestly believe that you need to have the highest expectation on yourself in order to be in the top 20 in the world. I don't think Niwa got to his current world ranking by accident. He might seem like he doesn't care, but he must care very deeply.

Yes but top athletes are often also realistic and usually set incremental goals. You don't hear most countries going after Olympic gold in singles, they talk about getting a medal because they know they are thinking about silver or bronze depending on the event. Koki Niwa cares, and I never said he doesn't. Mizutani cares too, no one is saying that top athletes don't care. My point is that Koki Niwa was really being honest about how he felt playing that match and that he may not have had expectations of winning but he may have at least expected to play well. My other point is that Wang Nan is an extreme example, you don't quote what Michael Jordan said to explain how Scottie Pippen feels even though both are great players you just don't. You don't quote how Thierry Henry feels to explain how Ronaldo or Messi feel. Wang Nan was a World Champion who probably wanted to bury herself alive when she won a silver medal. Koki Niwa would be ecstatic to have a silver medal at any senior event in table tennis, even his national event.

 

[NextLevel]

That because he was playing in Japan made it a worse loss? Did he say that or is that something you conclude? I'm not saying you are wrong but I don't think this is the first time Ma Long has beat Niwa on Japanese soil. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

It is something I concluded and I doubt that Niwa would have felt the need to play well vs someone he has lost to almost every time he has played that person if not for that fact. Sometimes, it is the nature of the circumstances that causes these issues.

 

[Atas Newton]

I think it's an overreaction to say Koki Niwa is a defeatist and isn't of top mental quality. To me his interview was more about honesty and realism, which actually makes me respect him even more.

 

[RidTheKid]

Niwas statement just tells me that he has given up on ever beating Ma Long again. Even without his statement I believe that to be true.

I think it's an overreaction to say Koki Niwa is a defeatist and isn't of top mental quality. To me his interview was more about honesty and realism, which actually makes me respect him even more.

 

[Nemo]

Niwas statement just tells me that he has given up on ever beating Ma Long again. Even without his statement I believe that to be true.

You sound pretty confident in your mind reading abilities.

Everyone has mental lows. In life. In sports.
His honesty honors him.
Nobody expected Niwa to win and it's fair to assume that Niwa himself didn't expect that either. Doesn't mean he sees no possibility of a win over ML to happen. He probably still expects himself to play as good as possible to maximise his chances. It's just that it didn't go well for KN in the match early on, which makes a feeling like what he described very understandable.

I am certain that every athlete had similar feelings at some point(s) in their career. It's just uncommon to be so open about this.
Likely because others like to take such a statement and generalize the player based on a weak moment - Essentially taking a snapshot in time and projecting it on the player's whole character. Which is silly to say the least.

 

[RidTheKid]

You misunderstand, I *interpret* his words as he doesn't believe that he can beat Ma Long. I myself don't believe that Niwa can beat Ma Long, Ma Long is just too good.

Yup. Like I mentioned earlier in this thread, I think that Ma Longs early exits in all WTTC's up until his first win in 2015 was pretty hard on him. He was heavily criticized for not having the mental strength to be able to win. Adversity can be overcome as it seems. Feels like I need to repeat myself for some reason?

You sound pretty confident in your mind reading abilities.

Everyone has mental lows. In life. In sports.
His honesty honors him.
Nobody expected Niwa to win and it's fair to assume that Niwa himself didn't expect that either. Doesn't mean he sees no possibility of a win over ML to happen. He probably still expects himself to play as good as possible to maximise his chances. It's just that it didn't go well for KN in the match early on, which makes a feeling like what he described very understandable.

I am certain that every athlete had similar feelings at some point(s) in their career. It's just uncommon to be so open about this.
Likely because others like to take such a statement and generalize the player based on a weak moment - Essentially taking a snapshot in time and projecting it on the player's whole character. Which is silly to say the least.

 

[RidTheKid]

I'm sure your respect for him will catapult him to winning the WTTC 2019

I think it's an overreaction to say Koki Niwa is a defeatist and isn't of top mental quality. To me his interview was more about honesty and realism, which actually makes me respect him even more.

 

[mrk]

The JNT has decided to withdraw the XD entry of Harimoto/Ishikawa at the upcoming WTTC.

M. Yoshimura/Ishikawa will replace them.

https://oes.ittf.com/view/event/entries/e33449f4-4cc0-4383-b6a2-d151aa14e33c/detail#ent_JPN

Is he seriously injured?