CNT's 10-Man Squad for Olympics 2012

[TableOhTennis]

The Chinese National Team (Guoping) announced the ultimate list of 10 players preparing for the 2012 London Olympics!

The National TT Team coaches recently had a conference revealing the names of players preparing for the Olympics.
For the men's team are Ma Lin, Wang Hao, Zhang Jike, Ma Long and Xu Xin; women's team are Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yan, Ding Ning, Guo Yue and Liu Shiwen.
Three-time Olympic veteran who participated in Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics,Wang Liqin, was not mentioned.

Liu Guoliang said "I believe that Wang Liqin has a good attitude and will continue with his table tennis career. I think this thing will not affect the emotions. He's in the sports team for so many years, this is not a problem...."

He also said something about Zhang Jike having a disadvantage compared to Ma Long and that Xu Xin has an advantage cuz he's young and left handed. And he chose Ma Lin cuz of the experience.

I'm sorry this is all I can fully understand for now. Let's wait for TableTennista to translate this more accurately or you can Google translate the original Chinese article here!

So, what are your opinions on this? Did Liu Guoliang made the right decision in choosing the Olympic candidates? If you are going to make your own list of players, who would they be?


edit: IMO, based on Ma Lin's performance recently, he is in a poorer condition then Wang Liqin so I dunno what was LGL thinkin. But, he's the coach and coaches know best. haha

 

[lgreggs]

I think he made the right decision. Ma lins form is always up and down. He's just in a bit of a dip atm. I think he will come back strong in the new year. But you can be sure he will be ready for the big occasion. He has too much experience not to be.

 

[WiWa]

The 5th member probably won't even play, just like Wang Liqin in the recent Team World Cup. Against stronger opponents I don't think they will take a risk by letting Ma Lin play. Unless the others suddenly perform really bad.

 

[YosuaYosan]

No way
Wang Liqin's chance for a grand slam...
Oh wait he haven't won a World Cup Singles.

Dam in his face Wang Liqin seems to be rooting for a gold in Olympics.

 

[Reborn]

I think the team looks amazing. I'm not to sure about Ma Lin though... He has been losing to players that he shouldn't have any trouble beating. Obviously, Ma Long, Zhang Jike, and Wang Hao are great choices. I'm happy to see Xu Xin in there (my favorite player). Hopefully he can play Boll in the olympics

 

[Matt Hetherington]

I don't agree with Ma Lin being picked over Wang Liqin. This is not the same as a casual up and down dip for Ma Lin, look at the players he has lost to this time and the frequency of those defeats. Wang Liqin has much more stable form, I think he should be in the 5 over Ma Lin.

 

[azlan]

I kinda agree with Matt. WLQ has been rather consistent this year. If we are talking about experience, WLQ have that too. So, I'm kinda perplex that Ma Lin was chosen over him. As for Xu Xin, he is the one for the future, and being a lefty, China will have a bit more variety.

 

[TTD Team Manager]

Lets face it whoever china choose they will rip it up! They will occupy the semi finals and i'm sure WLQ will survive

 

[TT Guru]

Agree with Pom, Wang Liqin is much more consistent these days. But either way, the 5th wheel probably won't play at all so who really cares.
In another year we won't see Wang Liqin or Ma Lin at all. Yan An is ready to fill the gap. (and perhaps Fang Bo?)

 

[Mr. RicharD]

I disagree. WLQ is a great player, but his consistency is only in really low players. If you take a look at his tournament play he hasn't played that many strong Euro and Asian players so his consistency has been good because of the fact that his hardest opponents have been the Chinese in the semis rather than a strong Euro or Japanese player in the 32's or 16's.

Ma Lin has had some bad luck with players that really favor their backhands. That Russian style has him perplexed, but you all can't doubt that he isn't training against players whoa re specifically doing just that. I have no doubt that by next year Ma Lin will not be allowing players with such strong backhands to play a dtl shot on him like this year. He will have to change tactics and change up the variation on his shots. Then he won't have trouble beating them. As for talent and experience I don't think that it gets better than Ma Lin, having won an Olympic Gold in both the singles and team's events. He's missing only the World Championships for his grand slam.

If he were able to work hard for another year yet there is a slight chance for his grandslam dream, but anything can happen from now until then. I personally agree with LGL's choices because frankly I don't think there's anyone more qualified than he to know what condition his players are in both mentally and physically for the Team.

 

[rodderz]

only two can play in the individuals and 3 in the teams, so thats the real decision is what two and the extra player for the teams

 

[Michal_Z]

I think he has chosen Ma Lin just because he is still a very good doubles player.
I dont really believe that Ma Lin will appear in any singles game.
This is my opinion. The second one is - It seems to me that Ma Long is kinda friend with Ma Lin and he will do better if he trains with Ma Lin.
Wang Liqin is far better in results now than Ma Lin, but they can put Ma Long, Zhang Jike and Wang Hao into singles, they dont need anyone other..
But Ma Lin with Xu Xin or Zhang or anyone in the doubles.. I dont think they would lose to anyone..

So this is my guess, why Liu Guoliang did what he did..

 

[Matt Hetherington]

I thought they took teams out and replaced with doubles...or was it the other way around? doubles out and teams in?

 

[TableOhTennis]

yeah, what are the events in the olympics? im not clear with it either..

 

[dici]

The team still available. I'm believe is no more double competition. And I also believe the format of team match is just all single...

 

[azlan]

Winners of the matches are in red. The official ITTF results are only till the Swedish Open. This year WLQ played a lot of doubles, probably because it was not his call, but LGL. He did very well in doubles and commendably well in singles, losing to Wang Hao in the Swedish semis. He didn't lose to any unheralded players, in fact he did extremely well against them. He didn't play any tournaments after the Volkswagen Cup in China in June until the Swedish Open in October.

Swedish Open
Quarter Final
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN
vs
KARLSSON Kristian SWE
KARLSSON Mattias SWE
-, -, -, -,-,-, - -
--- ---

Swedish Open
Round of 16
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
20:00 20/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN
vs
ELOI Damien FRA
LEBESSON Emmanuel FRA 11-3, 11-7, 11-8, -,-,-, - 3-0
WANG Liqin
YAN An

Swedish Open
Round of 32
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
18:15 20/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN
vs
CANTERO Jesus ESP
ROBLES Alvaro ESP 11-6, 11-8, 11-9, -,-,-, - 3-0
WANG Liqin
YAN An

Swedish Open
Round of 64
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN
vs
BYE --- ---
-, -, -, -,-,-, - W.O. 0-0
WANG Liqin
YAN An

Swedish Open
Final
Men's Doubles
15:15 23/10/2011
JIANG Tianyi HKG
TANG Peng HKG
vs
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 13-11,4-11,8-11, 3-11 3-4
WANG Liqin
YAN An

Swedish Open
Semi Final
Men's Doubles
16:45 22/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN
vs
CHAN Kazuhiro JPN
MATSUDAIRA Kenji JPN 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8,11-4,-, - 4-1
WANG Liqin
YAN An

Swedish Open
Quarter Final
Men's Doubles
12:15 22/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN
vs
GERELL Par SWE
LUNDQVIST Jens SWE 11-9, 11-6, 12-10, 8-11,5-11,11-3, - 4-2
WANG Liqin
YAN An

Swedish Open
Round of 16
Men's Doubles
20:30 21/10/2011
KISHIKAWA Seiya JPN
NIWA Koki JPN
vs
WANG Liqin CHN
YAN An CHN 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 6-11,-,-, - 1-3
WANG Liqin
YAN An

Swedish Open
Semi Final
Men's Singles
12:00 23/10/2011
WANG Hao CHN
vs
WANG Liqin CHN
11-3, 9-11, 9-11, 6-11,11-7,16-14, 11-6 4-3
WANG Hao

Swedish Open
Quarter Final
Men's Singles
19:30 22/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
ZHANG Jike CHN
11-8, 12-10, 11-5, 6-11,11-9,-, - 4-1
WANG Liqin

Swedish Open
Round of 16
Men's Singles
14:30 22/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
TANG Peng HKG
11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 11-3,11-9,11-5, - 4-2
WANG Liqin

Swedish Open
Round of 32
Men's Singles
18:30 21/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
MATSUDAIRA Kenji JPN
11-6, 11-4, 11-8, 12-14,11-5,-, - 4-1
WANG Liqin

Swedish Open
Round of 64
Men's Singles
14:45 21/10/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
CHOI Hyun Jin KOR
11-5, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6,-,-, - 4-0
WANG Liqin

Volkswagen China Open
Quarter Final
Men's Doubles
10:45 18/6/2011
YANG Zi SIN
ZHAN Jian ^^ SIN
vs
WANG Liqin CHN
XU Xin CHN 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 5-11,11-7,7-11, 11-8 4-3
YANG Zi
ZHAN Jian ^^

Volkswagen China Open
Round of 16
Men's Doubles
10:30 17/6/2011
KISHIKAWA Seiya JPN
NIWA Koki JPN
vs
WANG Liqin CHN
XU Xin CHN 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11,-,-, - 1-3
WANG Liqin
XU Xin

Volkswagen China Open
Semi Final
Men's Singles
12:15 19/6/2011
MA Long CHN
vs
WANG Liqin CHN
11-5, 11-8, 11-8, 7-11,12-10,-, - 4-1
MA Long

Volkswagen China Open
Quarter Final
Men's Singles
21:15 18/6/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
SEO Hyun Deok KOR
11-9, 11-2, 11-8, 11-8,-,-, - 4-0
WANG Liqin

Volkswagen China Open
Round of 16
Men's Singles
13:45 18/6/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
KISHIKAWA Seiya JPN
9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2,11-6,11-9, - 4-2
WANG Liqin

Volkswagen China Open
Round of 32
Men's Singles
21:15 17/6/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
MATSUDAIRA Kenji JPN
10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8,11-9,-, - 4-1
WANG Liqin

German Open
Quarter Final
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
LI Ahmet ^ TUR
VANG Bora TUR
vs
CHEN Qi CHN
WANG Liqin CHN -, -, -, -,-,-, - -

German Open
Round of 16
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
21:15 24/2/2011
KOU Lei UKR
PRYSHCHEPA Yevhen UKR
vs
CHEN Qi CHN
WANG Liqin CHN 4-11, 6-11, 4-11, -,-,-, - 0-3
CHEN Qi
WANG Liqin

German Open
Round of 32
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
20:15 24/2/2011
LI Hu ^^ SIN
ZHAN Jian ^^ SIN
vs
CHEN Qi CHN
WANG Liqin CHN 8-11, 8-11, 6-11, -,-,-, - 0-3
CHEN Qi
WANG Liqin

German Open
Round of 64
Men's Doubles (Pre. Rounds)
BYE --- ---
vs
CHEN Qi CHN
WANG Liqin CHN -, -, -, -,-,-, - W.O. 0-0
CHEN Qi
WANG Liqin

German Open
Quarter Final
Men's Doubles
11:00 26/2/2011
CHEN Qi CHN
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
HAO Shuai CHN
ZHANG Jike CHN 7-11, 9-11, 11-13, 11-13,-,-, - 0-4
HAO Shuai
ZHANG Jike

German Open
Round of 16
Men's Doubles
10:30 25/2/2011 JUNG Young Sik KOR
KIM Min Seok KOR
vs
CHEN Qi CHN
WANG Liqin CHN 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 6-11,-,-, - 1-3
CHEN Qi
WANG Liqin

German Open
Quarter Final
Men's Singles
19:15 26/2/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
WANG Hao CHN
3-11, 11-3, 5-11, 3-11,4-11,-, - 1-4
WANG Hao

German Open
Round of 16
Men's Singles
15:15 26/2/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
DIDUKH Oleksandr UKR
11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 4-11,11-6,-, - 4-1
WANG Liqin

German Open
Round of 32
Men's Singles
19:15 25/2/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
KISHIKAWA Seiya JPN
11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 14-12,11-2,-, - 4-1
WANG Liqin

German Open
Round of 64
Men's Singles
16:15 25/2/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
vs
KOU Lei UKR
11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-7,11-1,-, - 4-1
WANG Liqin

UAE Open
Final
Men's Doubles
15:15 19/2/2011
WANG Liqin CHN
XU Xin CHN
vs
MA Lin CHN
ZHANG Jike CHN 11-6, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6,11-4,8-11, 9-11 3-4
MA Lin
ZHANG Jike

More earlier results go to http://www.ittf.com/competitions/matches_per_player_all.asp?P_ID=109974&Formrnd64_Page=2#rnd64

What I am trying to say is that this is going to be the Olympics. There will be a mix bag of players, some maybe unorthodox ones. Players from Africa and South America. Ma Lin did not do very well with players who has unique style of play, he couldn't adapt quickly enough especially from what we saw this year.

 

[YosuaYosan]

True Sir Azlan, but coach Liu choose him because of his experience.
Ma Lin as a genius table tennis senior could lead the young guns to win the olympics, thats fo sure

 

[azlan]

But Yosua, WLQ has massive experience too. But I think I get what LGL is doing. I think he's going for Ma Lin because he's a pen holder. He already has 2 very good handshake players in Ma Long and ZJK. Wang Hao and Ma Lin will make the pen hold team of LGL. And Xu Xin is the special one, pen hold RPB player plus a lefty. Perfect sense....

 

[Matt Hetherington]

But not all of them will go, this is just the shortlist

 

[TableOhTennis]

True Sir Azlan, but coach Liu choose him because of his experience.
Ma Lin as a genius table tennis senior could lead the young guns to win the olympics, thats fo sure

yeah i think LGL chose Ma Lin to like supervise or give advises to the younger first time olympic players