China WomenI think Ding Ning might get the boot this time. Lately her performance is nothing to write about.
Chen Meng, Liu Shiwen, Wang Manyu
China WomenI think Ding Ning might get the boot this time. Lately her performance is nothing to write about.
I think the missing part of your analysis is what happens when Ding Ning is allowed to optimally prepare for a single event. She is going to the Olympics. She has done this twice already and knows what it takes. They will internally prepare her for Ito and defence. Nothing she can't handle if prepared.Ma Long and Liu Shiwen will 100% be going to Tokyo 2020 but only the former is 100% getting a Singles ticket (unless his injury acts up) while the latter's chances are about 80-90% (up in the air until she confirms that she can effectively defeat Ito and Hayata; Ishikawa and Hirano have never beaten her so those two are already tried and tested to be ineffectual). Slightly unfortunate for LSW as well is the fact that her other teammates are undependable at XD so she might have to give up the Singles event to make up for that. CM didn't step up enough when XX was underperforming at the China Open while ZYL was fortunate that Harimoto is average at doubles so XX could overpower the Japanese pair easily two days ago. FZD/DN's combination has proven to be completely underwhelming. Even though I adore LSW, I have to say that she has yet to achieve the requisite stamina needed to participate in three concurrent events. The WS finals yesterday against SYS proved that back-to-back matches with little breaks in between do take a toll on her (she basically lost her focus during the last two games despite being on par with/possibly ranking above her 18 y/o colleague in terms of skills).
For DN to be selected for the Olympics (let's be frank here and acknowledge that she only has the team event right now), she has to make sure that her previously touted 'golden pairing' with LSW at the upcoming Korean and Australian Opens wins gold at both. After all, LSW has proven numerous times that she can win doubles equally with both left-handed (e.g. Gu Yuting, Ding Ning) and right-handed (e.g. Chen Meng, Zhu Yuling) players so the test really falls on whether DN will be the burden. After all, DN has only succeeded once (with LSW no doubt) out of her five WD finals at the WTTC which in all honesty looks bad on her. Whether WMY participates depends on DN's form nearing the Olympics – her young age and lack of major credentials place her in a passive position to fight for a spot. SYS is surely being groomed to take over but likely for future Olympics (e.g. 2024 Paris). Her chances of being a reserve player are pretty high though. As revealed by LSW, a reserve player's role is no easy feat. S/he has to be the sparring partner for all three colleagues during the entire competition, morning till night, sometimes at the expense of his/her own meal-time. DN's old age and declining skill level makes her a poor candidate compared to SYS, so she will be completely dropped if she doesn't make the 3-person team. CM does well internally and internationally so her chances are only secondary to LSW, as she has yet to reach the level whereby she can lead others (and has flailed on two important finals e.g. WTTC 2019 and Asian Cups 2018 and 2019). The fact that she depended on LSW to devise tactical plans for their WD win (compared to her constant failures w same-gen ZYL and the younger SYS) demonstrates that the CNT's practice of having a veteran lead a junior is necessary. ZYL is completely out of the picture – she is always part of the losses to foreigners (read Japanese; Ito, Hirano, Nagasaki). It's not just about losing, it's about losing really badly (i.e. crumbling).
Like LSW, XX is 100% going to Tokyo 2020 but his doubles specialist status also places him in an disadvantaged position to compete for a Singles spot. Nonetheless, his recent triple win at the JO ensures that such a possibility is not completely foreclosed. FZD's past results make him a naturally strong contender. LGY will be a reserve player at best because fielding two left-handers will force ML to play doubles during the team event. LJK has yet to achieve World Champion status so his chances of going are pretty slim as well.
My predictions: LSW, CM, DN/WMY (reserve WMY if DN goes or SYS if WMY goes) & ML, XX, FZD (reserve LGY).
Actually another interesting team to analyse would be the German women's team. They seem to have no front runner at the moment. The team that won silver in Rio don't seem to be very active on tour, Solja possibly due to college, while Shan Xiaona and Han Ying possibly cannot play too often due to their age. Sabine and Mittelham are decent picks but it seems impossible to determine who will play singles and even their lineup for the team event. Solja will likely go for all three events because of her mixed doubles bronze at this year's WTTC.
Japan (women)
Ito, Hirano, Hayata
no we don't want you anymore Kasumi, you already have 2 beautiful medals, please give a chance to Hina. Thank you for everything you've done
France : Gauzy, Lebesson, Flore
Germany : Boll, Ovtcharov, Franziska
Croatia : Gacina, Pucar, Wei Shihao
Romania W : Szocs, Samara, Dodean
Sweden : Falck, Karlsson, Jon Persson
China W : Liu Shiwen, Ding Ning, Chen Meng
I strongly suspect that Möregardh will steal the spot from Persson (i.e. if we get to send 3 to the various events). His potential is much greater.
Third player only plays the team event or mixed doubles. Doubles is an issue for the team and Persson has been playing really well. Moregardh will likely go as an alternate and not play this time. The only way he goes is if he partners with Karlsson well as Falck is likely to play singles. Or he becomes so good at singles that he gets Falck and Karlsson to play together as doubles, though that would not square well with Karlsson and Falck playing singles.
Any news on Wang Chen and her petition against USA's selection process?
Why wouldn't she feel this way? LSW was #1 and should have pkayed singles in Rio but team politics kept her out. No one can blame DN for taking her chance and I am sure LSW doesn't blame her. DN didn't select herself.That's actually not true. She considers DN as both her friend (not the kind that she will share everything with but they do share a bond from growing up and training together) AND rival (亦敌亦友), not just the latter. There are also other oddities in the translation because the author didn't pay attention to the nuances revealed during the interview.