Woots. Well done to the HK pairing of Wong/Chan! Though I wonder if Wong can last till LA2028.
Meanwhile, CNT really struggling to produce high-performing doubles pairing, with only Lin/Kuai (XD) and Sun/Wang (WD) being relatively stable.
Stray observation but Chan's Mandarin accent is very mainlander 
If you spend so much time in mainland China and you can't speak Putonghua well, then you're wasting your time and money.
2022/3/21
【乒乓球】港乒小將內地集訓的一天 深造半年最難忘是黃石基地？ ([Table Tennis] A day of training in mainland China for young Hong Kong table tennis players: What was the most memorable part of their six-month training at the Huangshi base?)
https://www.sportsroad.hk/archives/368688/【乒乓球】港乒小將內地集訓的一天-深造半年最難/
https://www.hktta.org.hk/cgi-bin/display/news.cgi?news=2980
【體路專訊】香港乒乓球代表隊於2021年9月舉行的「第十四屆全國運動會」上派出多位小將上陣，藉此讓年輕梯隊汲取比賽經驗。其中4位男將姚鈞濤、陳顥樺、蔡俊杰及鮑奕文在完成比賽後未有返港，在總會安排下繼續留在內地集訓，輾轉到過河北、北京及黃石的訓練基地訓練，為之後的比賽作準備。今次特別帶大家認識一下這4位年齡介乎16至19歲的小將在內地訓練的日程。
在不同基地的訓練日程大同小異，4人以河北訓練基地為例，列舉一天的時間表：
08:00 起床
08:20 早餐
09:00 上午訓練
11:30 上午訓練結束
12:00 午餐
13:00 午休
15:00 下午訓練
17:30 拉筋、放鬆
18:00 晚飯
19:00 視情況加操
4人在內地集訓時，平日是密集式的從早練到晚，周末則只有上午訓練，下午為自由活動時間，讓大家可以稍作休息。4位港將經過半年在內地生活及訓練後，發現在內地訓練的假期不如在香港多，陳顥樺提到只有農曆新年期間有約一週的假期，不過在異鄉過節的他們基本上都忍不到手，假期間都會練習。
姚鈞濤則認為與在香港訓練的不同之處，是在內地集訓期間更為專注。這位17歲的球手早年接受全職訓練，同時入讀林大輝中學為全職運動員開辦的中學課程，他指：「在香港時平日都要上課，反而在這邊能夠全心全意投入訓練，比在香港更專注，訓練效果及強度也更佳。」
到訪過多個訓練基地後，姚鈞濤、陳顥樺及蔡俊杰不約而同指在黃石基地的日子最深刻，不過原因卻各有不同。黃石基地教陳顥樺難忘的是連基地建築結構也為配合球員日常訓練而精心設計：「球員宿舍與訓練場館相連，從自己的房間走到球館，快的只需幾秒，慢的也只是十多秒！」蔡俊杰則對在黃石遇上的訓練球手感到深刻：「在打國際比賽的選手向鵬、林詩棟等都在黃石練習，我們有機會與他們切磋交流，學習他們的訓練模式與技術。」至於姚鈞濤則在黃石基地度過17歲生日，隊友買來蛋糕與他慶祝的畫面，成為訓練以外的美好回憶。
與另外3位隊友不同的是，鮑奕文則認為在北京訓練的時光最深刻，全因在那裡遇上兩屆奧運單打冠軍馬龍：「我們像平日一樣去訓練，入到球館時卻眼前一亮，看到自己喜歡的球星馬龍正在練習。看他的訓練十分興奮，把他的訓練質量記在腦海裡。」除了馬龍之外，王楚欽及周雨等國乒球手亦在北京訓練，令港隊小將也「大飽眼福」。
（待續）
[Sportsroad Exclusive] The Hong Kong Table Tennis Team fielded several young players at the 14th National Games in September 2021, allowing the young players to gain competition experience. Four of the players,
YIU Kwan To, CHAN [Baldwin] Ho Wah, CHOY Chun Kit [Prince], and PAU Yik Man, did not return to Hong Kong after completing the competition. Arranged by the Association, they continued training in mainland China, traveling to training bases in Hebei, Beijing, and Huangshi to prepare for upcoming competitions. This article takes a look at the training schedules of these four players, aged 16 to 19, in mainland China.
The training schedules at different training bases are largely similar. Using the Hebei training base as an example, the four players outlined their daily schedule:
8:00 Wake up
8:20 Breakfast
9:00 Morning training
11:30 End of morning training
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Lunch break
15:00 Afternoon training
17:30 Stretching and cooling down
18:00 Dinner
19:00 Additional training as needed
During their training camp in mainland China, the four players engaged in intensive training from morning to night on weekdays, while weekends saw only morning training, with the afternoon as free time for a short rest. After six months of living and training in mainland China, the four Hong Kong players discovered that they didn't have as many days off as they did in Hong Kong. Chan Ho Wah mentioned that they only had about a week off during the Lunar New Year holiday, but since they were celebrating a holiday abroad, they couldn't resist and would practice during that time.
Yiu Kwan To believes that the difference between training in mainland China and Hong Kong is that they are more focused during training camp in mainland China. The 17-year-old player has been training full-time since his early years, attending the secondary school program for full-time athletes at Lam Tai Fai College. He said, "In Hong Kong, I had classes every weekday, but here I can fully dedicate myself to training. I'm more focused than in Hong Kong, and the training results and intensity are better."
After visiting several training bases, Yiu Kwan To, Chan Ho Wah, and Choy Chun Kit all said that their time at the Huangshi base was the most memorable, but for different reasons. What Chan Ho Wah will never forget about the Huangshi training base is that even the base's structure was meticulously designed to accommodate the players' daily training. "The players' dormitories are connected to the training facility. Walking from your room to the facility takes just a few seconds if you're quick, and just over ten seconds if you're slow!" Choy Chun Kit was deeply impressed by the training players he met at Huangshi.
"International players like Xiang Peng and Lin Shidong practice in Huangshi. We had the opportunity to exchange ideas with them and learn from their training methods and techniques." Yiu Kwan To celebrated his 17th birthday at the Huangshi training base. The sight of his teammates buying him a cake to celebrate has become a fond memory beyond training.
Unlike his three other teammates, Pau Yik Man considers his training time in Beijing the most memorable, thanks to meeting two-time Olympic singles champion Ma Long there.
"We went to training as usual, but upon entering the gym, my eyes lit up to see my favorite star, Ma Long, practicing. Watching him train was incredibly exciting, and I've imprinted his training quality on my mind." Besides Ma Long, other national table tennis players like Wang Chuqin and Zhou Yu also trained in Beijing, providing a feast for the eyes for the young Hong Kong players.
(To be continued)
2022/3/25
【乒乓球】內地深造半年大幅進步 小將勢當港乒接班人 ([Table Tennis] Young players make significant progress after six months of training in mainland China, poised to become Hong Kong table tennis successor)
https://www.sportsroad.hk/archives/369704/【乒乓球】內地深造半年大幅進步-小將勢當港乒接/
https://www.hktta.org.hk/cgi-bin/display/news.cgi?news=2988
【體路專訊】香港乒乓代表隊近年致力於培育「土炮」球員，一眾自家製的球手在國際舞台上更取得不俗成績。更令人可喜的是，「土炮」代表並非曇花一現，在總會悉心栽培下，港乒不愁沒有接班人。其中在2021年9月出戰「第十四屆全國運動會」後一直在內地訓練的姚鈞濤、陳顥樺、蔡俊杰及鮑奕文，就被劉國棟教練大讚半年間進步顯著，相信將來4人會成為港隊的核心。
年齡介乎16至19歲的港乒小將姚鈞濤、陳顥樺、蔡俊杰及鮑奕文，出戰全運會後未有返回香港，在劉國棟教練帶領下造訪多個內地訓練基地，先後於河北、北京及黃石集訓。劉教練認為國內集訓能夠有效提升港隊球手水平：「國內訓練環境中，打乒乓球的人較香港多、水平較高，而且訓練非常規範，在中國訓練對他們的技術提升應該是最好的。」
陳顥樺（圖：體路資料庫）
姚鈞濤（圖：體路資料庫）
北京訓練基地亦是馬龍、丁寧等中國明星球員的據點，在黃石則與國家二隊球手一同訓練，讓4位小將不但「大飽眼福」，也能切身感受國家隊的訓練強度，同時琢磨自己的技術。劉教練點評姚鈞濤、陳顥樺、蔡俊杰及鮑奕文在這半年間的訓練效果相當良好：「跟國家二隊一同訓練對他們應該有最大的幫助，他們比賽能力進步很大，如正手的殺傷力、比賽經驗及戰術運用都較以往進步很多。希望在疫情結束後打比賽，能夠看到他們的顯著進步。」劉教練亦指通過競爭，預計4位球員在6年內會成為香港隊的主力球手。
提及過去半年的內地生活，4位球員直言享受，並感謝總會提供機會予球員到內地集訓。陳顥樺認為在內地的訓練提升了正手質量及反手穩定性，更讓他能夠針對自己的問題作改善；鮑奕文則指內地一同訓練的球手較多，「有多種不同的打法，更貼近比賽水平，讓我們能夠訓練自己的調整能力。而且在過程中曾轉過不同基地，每個訓練場地都有所不同，可以模擬出國比賽時需要調整的情況。」姚鈞濤期望在國內訓練的提升，能夠有助他們之後在國際舞台如亞洲青少年錦標賽或世界青少年錦標賽爭奪佳績。
鮑奕文（乒總相片）
蔡俊杰（乒總相片）
除了技術之外，4位球手亦認為在內地訓練有助提升心態。蔡俊杰指：「集訓期間與對手打練習比賽，有時落敗會感到挫折，過程中要學習接受失敗再成長，感到自己心態較以往成熟。」除了自覺有所進步，身在香港的父親雖然只能透過電話保持聯繫，但亦感受到兒子的改變，蔡爸爸指：「對談間感覺到他明顯成熟了。例如以往需要不斷詢問教練打法，現在他卻會默默地努力，自己透過思考想出一條路。」縱使因為兒子留在國內訓練而未能一同度過農曆新年等節日，蔡爸爸卻認為「犧牲」會換來兒子與幾位隊友更好的將來，故感謝乒總的安排之外，亦期望蔡俊杰能夠追上港隊師兄黃鎮廷及林兆恒等人的步伐，「亦讓在香港打乒乓球的小朋友看到，乒總訓練的配套能培育土生土長的球員，而且不是浪得虛名！」
俗語說「台上一分鐘，台下十年功」，希望4位年輕球手在國內鍛鍊的所下的苦功，很快就能夠在大舞台的乒乓球桌上展現成果！
[Sportsroad Exclusive]
The Hong Kong Table Tennis Team has been committed to cultivating "homegrown talent" in recent years, and a number of these homegrown players have achieved impressive results on the international stage. Even more encouraging is that these "homegrown talent" are not a flash in the pan. With the dedicated training of the Association, Hong Kong table tennis has no shortage of successors.
Among them, YIU Kwan To, Chen [Baldwin] Ho Wah, Choy Chun Kit [Prince], and PAU Yik Man, who have been training in mainland China since competing in the 14th National Games in September 2021, have been praised by coach Liu Guodong for their significant progress over the past six months. He believes that these four will become the core players of the Hong Kong team in the future.
Yiu Kwan To, Chen Ho Wah, Choy Chun Kit, and Pau Yik Man, aged between 16 and 19, did not return to Hong Kong after competing in the National Games. Under the guidance of coach Liu Guodong, they visited several mainland training bases, including training camps in Hebei, Beijing, and Huangshi.
Coach Liu believes that domestic training will effectively improve the performance of the Hong Kong team's players: "In the domestic training environment, there are more table tennis players than in Hong Kong, the level of their skills is higher, and the training is very standardized. Training in China should be the best way for them to improve their skills."
Chen Haohua (Photo: Sportsroad Database)
Yao Juntao (Photo: Sportsroad Database)
The Beijing training base is also home to Chinese star players such as Ma Long and Ding Ning. Training in Huangshi alongside players from the national second team provided the four young players with a visual feast while also experiencing the intensity of national team training firsthand and honing their own skills. Coach Liu commented on the excellent results of the six-month training for Yiu Kwan To, Chan Ho Wah, Choy Chun Kit, and Pau Yik Man.
"Training with the national second team has been a huge help to them. Their playing ability has improved significantly, such as their forehand lethality, match experience, and tactical application. I hope to see significant progress in their matches after the pandemic ends." Coach Liu also stated that through competition, he anticipates that the four players will become key players for the Hong Kong team within six years.
Reflecting on their time in mainland China over the past six months, the four players expressed their enjoyment and expressed their gratitude to the Association for providing the opportunity for training there. Chan Ho Wah believes that training there has improved their forehand quality and backhand consistency, allowing him to address his weaknesses. Pau Yik Man noted that training with a large group of players in mainland China has provided them with a variety of playing styles, closer to competition level, and helped them hone their adjustment ability. Furthermore, they moved between different training bases, each with its own unique venue, allowing them to simulate the adjustments needed for international competitions. Yiu Kwan To hopes that the improvements gained through training in China will help them compete for top results on international stages such as the Asian Youth Championships and the World Youth Championships.
Pau Yik Man (Photo by Table Tennis Association)
Choy Chun Kit (Photo by Table Tennis Association)
In addition to their skills, the four players also believe that training in mainland China has helped improve their mentality. Choy Chun Kit said, "During the training camp, I played practice matches with opponents, and sometimes I felt frustrated when I lost. I learned to accept failure and grow, and I feel my mentality has matured." Besides feeling self-conscious about his progress, his father in Hong Kong, though only able to keep in touch via phone, has also noticed a change in his son. Choy's father said, "I can tell he's clearly matured during our conversations. For example, he used to constantly ask his coach for tips, but now he quietly works hard and figures things out on his own." Although he couldn't spend Lunar New Year and other holidays with his son because he was training in mainland China, Choy's father believes this sacrifice will bring a better future for his son and his teammates. He expressed his gratitude to the Table Tennis Association for the arrangement and expressed his hope that Choy Chun Kit can catch up with his Hong Kong teammates, such as Wong Chun Ting and Lam Siu Hang.
"It will also show the young table tennis players in Hong Kong that the Table Tennis Association's training program is capable of nurturing homegrown players, and that not just for show!"
As the saying goes, "One minute on stage takes ten years of hard work off stage." He hopes that the hard work these four young players put in in mainland China will soon yield results on the big stage!
