2028 LA Olympics Predictions

[AutomaticBackhand]

After the Olympics is before the Olympics.

Now that Paris is over, it's time for Predictions.

Mine are:

Unless something crazy happens
(like this time)
Sun Yingsha, Wang Chuqin and both together for WS, MS and Mixed.

China and China for Teams.

Reason for WCQ and SY:

They will both figure out what went wrong this time.

Probably mental and tactical changes.

And they'll be experienced.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Wcq and Lin Shidong

 

[Shine]

I don't know man
WCQ is not in the running for me.
Too much risks when he plays. Not until he wins a WTTC can he be regarded as a real contender.
SYS should still remain up there for sure. I'm just curious how much more room for growth does Kuai man have. Can she displace WMY??
LSD too
China does have a lot to think about but I think they can still cover most of their bases in 2028 because most of these guys will still be around. By 2032, most of them would surely have left, that'll be the real test for the CNT.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Tomo and Matsushima will play singles. Shinozuka needs to improve mental toughness and get stronger; otherwise, Togami as 3rd player.

Hayata and Miwa will play singles. Hirano is in lead position for 3rd spot, but that could change. She will see competition from Kihara, Odo, and others. Odo, especially, has been impressive lately.

Alexis will fix his mental blocks. He will surpass Felix to become Europe's champion.

Kaufmann will be Europe's best female player followed by Pavade.

SYS/WMY in singles. Competition for 3rd spot will be fierce. Qian Tianyi, Chen Yi, and Kuai Man will be in the mix in that order.

WCQ/LSD in singles. FZD as 3rd player.

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

I am wondering what will be in for Germany.
Who will be on Dang Qiu's side?

They don't really have promising youngsters, afaik.

France, Japan, China and Taiwan are all looking good
Sweden and S. Korea will be fine probably.

Would like to see more of that N. Korean guy.

Kanak Jha & Ma Jinbao could become dangerous too.

 

[Dr Evil]

If I had to put money on a dark horse to get a singles medal in 4 years, it would be Sora, only because I could get better odds on him than on Miwa or LSD. Not sure there are any super-prodigies in the juniors right now, but 4 years ago very few people had heard of Felix, so you never know.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

China will be fine as always

 

[John_]

For me it's either Fan Zhendong, Truls Moregardh, Darco Jorgic or Alexis Lebrun.

Wang has everything except from the mental part.

Fan is cold and calculated,
Truls has passion and feel,
Darco has will and determination,
Alexis is technical and constantly improving.

2028 will be the time the gold comes back to Europe, with only Fan being so much more consistent than everyone else, all it takes is a few years to get above 30, when that happens, he'll fall, like all Chinese.

Wang is simply too inconsistent, same with Lin Gaoyuan and Liang Jingkun. They have massive power, speed and great technique, but they play with risk instead of stability. The risks they take need experience that only elder players have, like Ma Long and Fan Zhendong.

 

[carrot468]

WCQ just need a good coach with the mental part.
But, he went through this year, and the mental part naturally improve over the next four years.
Women's? Sun Yingsha without doubt.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Miwa Gold
Shin Silver
Annete Bronze

The rest: Tourist in LA or Coaching staff or as a Sports Reporter.

 

[igorponger]

This all depends on final resolution by the ITTF Anti Boosting Group. The present booster detector should give Europa happy chance a lot.

Yet, an off-chance does exist that ITTF takes a different view on boosters and re-consider the Rule so as to allow players using non-toxic boosters freely. Course, players should be twice as careful about the thickness limitation of 4 mm. Lets live and see.

 

[SFF_lib]

Mens singles:

• Felix will surpass Alexis due to pace-based style, much suitable for the ABS ball
• Togami can surpass Harimoto if mentality fixed, he's well rounded with better agility than Harimoto
• Sadly not much hope in the young Korean players
• FZD could possibly get into final if no significant injury
• WCQ can return as king

Womens singles:

• SYS No. 1
• Miwa with better physiques will play the latest Dignics = much better speed and spin
• SYB from Korea is already strong and well rounded, top 4 for sure
• Kaufmann is physically very strong, could make to top 4 if short game and variation improved

 

[gospodindark]

WCQ and Lin Shidong in MS.
WCQ, Lin Shidong and FZD in team.
They will prepare XD team without players from singles after WCQ fault.
WS will be SYS and WMY. In team SYS+WMY+WYD.

 

[Shine]

WYD is already 28, it's highly unlikely that she'll still be around in 4 years time.
KM actually offers the Chinese team more upside in doubles. Right now, the women's team looks shakiest in doubles. If their doubles team becomes impossible to beat, then Japan may remain second fiddle for the foreseeable future.

 

[cybershapedragon]

FZD expressed his desire to retire in many ways. If Ma Long and FZD retire, China will be very difficult to defend the MS medal, even the team's

 

[NextLevel]

FZD expressed his desire to retire in many ways. If Ma Long and FZD retire, China will be very difficult to defend the MS medal, even the team's

China MT will be fine. Not as reliable as with FZD but with WCY leading and LSD and LJK and LGY amongst others (XP, RW), they will still be the favorites. The problem ia that the other teams are too lacking in depth. Sweden may be the closest to having two players at the required level though I expect Japan and maybe France to get there shortly.

 

[GlennChu]

MS:
1. Felix Lebrun, a 17 year old pen-holder already wins olympic silver medal, when he gains more muscle and experience, I believe he could be the one to overthrow the Chinese crown.
2. WCQ, if FZD and ML retires after Paris, WCQ will be the last hope for Chinese TT team, I think he will grow stronger in the coming Olympics.
3. Tomakazu Harimoto, I just trust him to solve current problems and wish him to win an Olympic medal.

WS:
1. Miwa Harimoto, her technique and playing style is fascinating, if she gets more mentally stable, she will be the best woman player of the world. If not 2028, 2032 will she be.
2. SYS, currently strongest WS player, after 4 years she will also be one the the best, and most probable Olympics champion. I just like the Harimoto brothers and sisters better to put her at the 2nd place LOL.
3. WMY, she truly loves table tennis and she play aggressively with most advanced technique, I believe she could be Olympic WS medalist in 2028.

 

[driversbeat]

Miwa is the real deal and I hope she can rise up to become Japan's No.1, hopefully within this year or the next.

Hirano and Ito sticking around will largely depend on whether any of Japan's younger talent can rise up. Odo's looking the best right now but it's still too early to tell. From Rio 'til Paris, we've had talent rising up to dislodge an established member (Ito replacing Sayaka in 2016, Hayata threatening Ishikawa in 2020, Miwa dislodging Ito in 2024)

If we do get another strong singles Contender, then Hirano and Ito will probably retire before 2028. Hayata will likely stick around even if her competitive viability slides, likely as the third team member. If no one else can rise up, then Hirano, Ito, and Kihara will likely be fighting for the third spot. Whatever the case, everyone should focus their efforts on mixed doubles to cement their positions in the team.

 

[Hurricane AON]

It's impossible to predict anything with certainty because any young player could be in the top 10 within two or three years, just like Miwa or Wang Chuqin. On the other hand, someone currently at the top, like Xu Xin, might retire in two years.

 

[andzejgolot]

Harimoto, after all collapses he will put himself on another level.