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as in men vs women? Unless they modify the rules to give women some sort of a handicap, like a 5-0 start in each game, I don't see it going well.I actually want to see mixed gender match-ups. That'd be a game-changer.
as in men vs women? Unless they modify the rules to give women some sort of a handicap, like a 5-0 start in each game, I don't see it going well.
When you get these kind of hypothetical matchups in other sports (major league baseball batters vs women olympic fast-pitch softball pitchers for example) it is isually the men who are too gentlemanly (i.e. scared) to participate. It would be relatively easy for t2 apac to find out by experimenting in some practice matches what an effective handicap would be. I would love to watch that.
IMHO, the difference between men and women is too huge in table tennis for mixed-gender matches to be enjoyable. I know in some sports that might be a good idea. For example, there's little difference between men and women in something like curling or marksmanship. I saw Ma Long and Ding Ning play an exhibition game once. Even though it was only an exhibition, the difference in power and speed was very clear.
IMHO, the difference between men and women is too huge in table tennis for mixed-gender matches to be enjoyable. I know in some sports that might be a good idea. For example, there's little difference between men and women in something like curling or marksmanship. I saw Ma Long and Ding Ning play an exhibition game once. Even though it was only an exhibition, the difference in power and speed was very clear.
It would be interesting women vs men to see how high up in the top 50 of men, women can compete.
I wouldn't handicap it.
This is a great idea, it would create a lot of tension. Bernadette Scocs vs Timo Boll would be a funny encounter
And CNT & Japanese Women vs all men
Ding Ning vs Paul Drinkhall what would happen, would paul win easily? ?
Do you have any personal experience with handicap fomats for table tennis competition? IMO, the 11 point game makes them extremely effective. I doubt more than a five point handicap would be needed to make the outcome 50-50 between men and women in T2 APAC. There are also formats where the stronger player starts with negative points, so they need 16 to win the set for example.
I've participated and played in handicap tournaments locally and seen fantastic matches with skill differences as extreme as a usatt 2300 vs 1100. It's not pros against amateurs, and table tennis isn't wrestling or weightlifting, the women can play.
Using ML as your example weakens your argument, imo. He schools 99% of the other men in the top 300, so why wouldn't he do the same to Ding Ning? There's no ML in T2 APAC.