Team China is worried of the Italians.

[zeio]

Good effort. Better luck in WT.

WS R16
Batra (18) 1-4 Hirano (8) (-6, -9, 12, -8, -6)
Batra stopped Hirano's comeback in G3 by keeping the ball on the table.
G4 26, 56 TO for Hirano, 66, 67, 68 endline edge for Hirano, 78 Hirano missed the popup (hit too hard), 79, 89, 811
Lots of nets and edges for Hirano throughout. Something about her stroke makes that happen more often when it matters.
G5 10, 15, 25, 26, 36, 38, 48 Hirano missed the popup off the net (hit too hard again), 68, 611 (net for Hirano).
Hirano's read of the spin is likely the best in the world, aside from the speed of her BH. No chance for Batra.

SYS (1) 4-0 Akula (16) (10, 10, 8, 3)
G1 610, 1210
G2 610, 810 TO for Akula, 1210
SYS shows the world why she is WR1.
G3 84, 87 dead net for Akula, 97 dead net for SYS, 107, 108, 118

 

[carrot468]

Good try.
BTW, before Paris Olympics, Deng Yaping had coached the Chinese team about pimple players.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Some big shot coach told me, if the Indians are so good and a threat to many, they would have won few WTT titles by now.
Occasional surprise here and there, but inconsistent for an entire tournament won't really put you on the radar.
I think that is something for Max to work on with the next generation.
I do believe India will be a powerhouse in world TT some day.

 

[zeio]

Costantini: I only know that India is the underdog.
China: I see underdogs everywhere.
Kaufmann: I'm THE (hidden) underdog.

Is it time for India’s top table tennis players Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula to revisit the long-pimple rubber game plan?
https://indianexpress.com/article/s...kula-long-pimple-rubber-table-tennis-9521041/

However, the ‘long pimple’ advantage vanished for India’s players during the Olympics. With pace, power and just understanding how the long pimples work, Kaufmann was able to defeat two Indian players, perhaps the best in the world at making the use of long-pimple rubber.

...

Manika’s coach Aman Balgu says the focus should be fitness levels.

“I feel that Manika and other Indians have to work on their fitness levels. In order to win an Olympic medal, we need to be able to generate much more power and spin. You need to win six matches to win a medal in singles and I don’t think that right now our players will be able to keep the same high intensity for six straight matches. We can talk about strategies and tactics all day long, but if you don’t have the physical fitness to back it, you won’t get a medal,” Balgu said.

National coach Massimo Costantini, who’s currently in his hometown in Italy on a mini-break before the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) League starts next week, told The Indian Express that it doesn’t matter which rubber a player uses. What matters is how one can vary their strokes.

“In the women’s game, the focus is on variation and ball placement. I won’t say if pimple rubber is an advantage or not, but you can have more variations if you’re playing with pimples. No consecutive balls should be played the same way. You have to create a surprise, you can’t get into a predictable loop. The key should be a change of strategy, basically disorienting the opponents,” the 66-year-old Costantini said.

...

Somnath Ghosh, Sreeja’s coach, says using pimples is not the only reason.

“Sreeja and Manika have not reached where they are because of long pimples, but with it. There’s a difference. Look, you can defend with long pimples but how will you get a point? You have to attack. And for that, you need to have a great forehand attack. You also need to know when to attack. That astuteness needs to be there,” Ghosh said.

...

“Sreeja’s graph has been impressive. She has entered the top 100 and reached World No.21 in less than two years. Now if you ask me what needs to improve to give her a medal in LA, I will only say fitness. Physical and mental,” Ghosh said.

...

Coach Costantini reiterates that to reach the top, ‘you need a proper structure’.

“I’m confident that Indians can beat the top players irrespective of their rubbers. We have players with drive and skills but what we need is a solid programme and support. We need consistent development of coaches who know the modern ways of the sport and how to develop a player. One of the main reasons I have joined here is to help create such a structure,” he says.

The first is setting up a national centre which will most likely come up in Bengaluru.

“It will change the sport in the country, I can tell you. We can have a permanent place to have this ‘Indian TT movement’. We can have opportunities for players at various levels to come and train. Talent identification will be massive and the players and coaches can be monitored. The country is ready to start producing players of the highest quality and this will just accelerate that,” Costantini.

What about the men?

With Sharath Kamal having played his last Olympics, the baton has fallen to Harmeet Desai and G Sathiyan. The two haven’t broken into the top 30 in the past three years, with Harmeet’s career-best being 59. Costantini, though, says he’s not worried about the men.

“I know that Indian men will climb new heights. Just look at the way Manav Thakkar is playing and mind you, there’s a huge pool of talent. Consistency is a key area they have to focus on and we’re going to help them reach the top,” he says.

It's high time India stopped comparing with China day in, day out... They have more important things to worry about, like protecting their females and making public restrooms "a commodity", than seeking to host the 2036 Olympics...

EP-63 | What is the reason behind India’s low Olympic medal tally? Quick Take With Smita Prakash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L_JUq186TY

Why is India Missing out on Gold at the Olympics? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUmcn86tjbg

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Costantini: I only know that India is the underdog.
China: I see underdogs everywhere.
Kaufmann: I'm THE (hidden) underdog.

Is it time for India’s top table tennis players Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula to revisit the long-pimple rubber game plan?
https://indianexpress.com/article/s...kula-long-pimple-rubber-table-tennis-9521041/


It's high time India stopped comparing with China day in, day out... They have more important things to worry about, like protecting their females and making public restrooms "a commodity", than seeking to host the 2036 Olympics...

EP-63 | What is the reason behind India’s low Olympic medal tally? Quick Take With Smita Prakash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L_JUq186TY

Why is India Missing out on Gold at the Olympics? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUmcn86tjbg

In another word: