Dun wanna get involved this "title defense" anymore 'coz it is too bias to stand
But one thing I should correct that Ma Long time has been actually started since 6 years ago or so, not now... He destroyed all legends at that time including WLQ, Ma Lin, Wang Hao, Chen Qi. Your Zhang Jike was more or less just a kid back to that time (even he is older though)
Cheer up
I might hate myself for saying this 'cause it's not in my blood to pick fight with people, but I can't stand you anymore. I really hope that you could stop this kind of trash talk about Zhang Jike in this forum. Everyone who shared their views in this topic have been very rational, calm, and just stick to their points, except you. Each one of your posts was trying to discredit, ridicule, and belittle Zhang Jike. I don't know what Zhang Jike did to you personally that you hate him so much and can't hold your tongue. If you don't like some of Zhang Jike fans' behaviors, then just aim your fires at them. Please leave Zhang Jike out of this hatred.
For your information, Zhang Jike was not a kid 6 years ago or so when Ma Long was destroying all legends at that time. I'm assuming you are talking about 2008 when Ma Long won 2008 Pro Tour Grand Finals after beating Wang Liqin, Ma Lin, and Wang Hao. However, earlier that year, in 2008 Chinese National TT Championships, Zhang Jike achieved a feat no less impressive when he won the championship title after beating Ma Lin, Wang Liqin, and Wang Hao on his way to the top. In 2009 CNT's "Road to Yokohama“ Men's Trials, Zhang Jike ranked 4th while Ma Long ranked 8th in the final standing. In the end, the coaching team decided to give Ma Long a berth in the seven men's squad of men's single's event, and Zhang Jike was only chosen to play in the men's double and mixed double events. As everybody might already know by now, Zhang Jike was punished for disobeying his coach in one of the trial games. So, Zhang Jike was there with Ma Long almost stride by stride except that he had worse than usual record against Ma Long.
The thing is, Zhang Jike achieved more with less considering that he lost two precious years of vigorous training with the National Team at the crucial moment of his budding career (16 - 18 years old) when he was demoted to the provincial team from 2004-2006. As a result, he had less opportunities than Ma Long in international competitions. Ma Long started competing in Pro Tour in 2005 while Zhang Jike only had his debut in Pro Tour in 2008, if you could disregard his first and only Pro Tour appearance in 2002 back when he was only 14 years old and before his demotion. As of today, Ma Long has 54 Pro Tour/World Tour appearances comparing with Zhang Jike's 35. 2011 Rotterdam World Table Tennis Championships was Ma Long's third trip in men's single's event while it was Zhang Jike's first. By now, Ma Long has competed in three World Cups and Zhang Jike only two. Even Xu Xin who is 2 years younger than Zhang Jike has more WTTC (3), WC (3), and only 3 less Pro Tour (32) experiences than Zhang Jike. Needless to say continental competitions such as Asian Games, Asian Cup, Asian Championships, etc. As a matter of fact, Zhang Jike is the least experienced player in terms of international competitions among the CNT's three musketeers (ZJK, ML, XX). That being said, I think he has nobody but himself to blame for the early downfall (the demotion to the provincial team). So, I'm not arguing whether he should or should not be demoted. I'm just pointing out the fact.
I am not a Ma Long lover, nor am I a Ma Long hater. Actually, I appreciate this great rivalry between Zhang Jike and Ma Long. It's good for our sport. It keeps the fans and public interested and even passionate about the game. It reminds me of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning rivalry in NFL. One is the media and public's Golden Boy who is considered a big game player and has won three Super Bowl rings, and another is more or less experts and football fans' favorite who is considered the best player in statistics and has broken all sorts of records. And, their fans hate each other just as much as ZJK and ML fans hate each other. Just kidding
. Their decade long rivalry from early 2000s until yesterday's AFC championship game has fed media and football forum with the kind of passion and interest that is good for the promotion of the sport.
So, please, show some respect to both Zhang Jike and Ma Long for the sake of the sport.
Coming back to the topic of who's best, Zhang Jike or Ma Long, I think it's too early to say who's the best at this stage of their career. Like ttmonster said we should wait until both of them retire from the sport to cast the vote. And even then, I don't think there will be a consensus on this topic. Think about it, who do you think is better, Ma Lin or Wang Liqin? Or, Wang Hao, if you want to throw him into the mix. It all depends on what criteria you use to judge players, the championship titles one won or the records one broke or holds?
