I don't care if you're Ma Lin or Liu Guoliang himself, this is why you don't take the TO in the second. Never made sense to me this tactic
Yes that was a tactic mistake by Ma Lin too early Time Out
I don't think the Time Out call was that bad. Zhang Jike took timeout in the first set in 2012.
However.....Did I miss something or when did it become common to celebrate nets and edges?
I think that is only an "Olympic thing". That match was so important for both of them, that was the final. They couldn't compose themself.
This show you how vital was to win point after point no matter what
I don't think the Time Out call was that bad. Zhang Jike took timeout in the first set in 2012.
However.....Did I miss something or when did it become common to celebrate nets and edges?
You celebrate the points you win. You can apologize for the nets and edges as well after.
Amazing – will this fire China up or the first of more upsets?
This is the only event that they had a risk of losing gold in (because of the gap in skill vs the #2 team and they have only one entry). The others are far less risky. Even upsets won't cost them gold in the others.
Wow, heartbroken for LSW but congratulations to Japan. Mizutani actually performed very well today IMO – he managed to put away many shots.
As a LSW fan that you are, what do you think short term future is for her?
I look at positives as they did go 7 games, effort there no doubt, disappointing but China being the team they are demand more, I get it....
Medal ceremony they looked dejected which I understand
This is the only event that they had a risk of losing gold in (because of the gap in skill vs the #2 team and they have only one entry). The others are far less risky. Even upsets won't cost them gold in the others.
While I totally agree – it does show they aren't invincible
China is the clear favourite for all other 4 gold medals, but who knows ? today showed that they are humans. When Japan leveled at 2-2 afterwards, i think we saw XX miss shots he put 100% on the table till then, because of the growing pressure.
the Chinese players are the more skilled players, and the favourite to win, but in all the events, i think an upset is possible. It will be difficult for Mima to beat both SYS and CM, i actually think there is more chance in the Men's. ML definitely doesn't seem as dominant as he used to be. FZD looks invincible but you never know. If his opponent has the form of his life, and a little bit of luck, and then FZD gets nervous...
in team, an upset looks even less likely, but you never know. because doubles can often be a lottery and then LSW or ML are already past their peak. so...
Exactly that – a seed of doubt is placed. Makes it a bit more exciting!
As a LSW fan that you are, what do you think short term future is for her?
I look at positives as they did go 7 games, effort there no doubt, disappointing but China being the team they are demand more, I get it....
Medal ceremony they looked dejected which I understand
Defo her last international tournament, so I would have thought a gold for XD would be the best consolation (I would have supported Ito for WS Gold wholeheartedly). Wells, another blemish on LSW's career then – Moscow 2010 and Tokyo 2020 😫
Defo her last international tournament, so I would have thought a gold for XD would be the best consolation (I would have supported Ito for WS Gold wholeheartedly). Wells, another blemish on LSW's career then – Moscow 2010 and Tokyo 2020 😫
It's not all bad. There are players from China who never get to play Olympics, or play but don't win Gold. There's no need to have a perfect record to be successful, and none of the previous champions had to face a threat like Ito.