We have reached the final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s singles event and what a final it promises to be. The stage is set for the current world champion Ma Long to take on the current Olympic champion Zhang Jike. The significance of this match and the stakes couldn’t be any higher with both players’ legacies on the line.
Ma Long vs Zhang Jike! The final showdown! - Via ITTF Flickr
If Ma Long wins he silences his critics that say he can’t do it on the biggest stage, and would become China’s 5th men’s singles champion. If Zhang Jike wins you would be hard pressed to deny him the title of being the greatest player the world of table tennis has ever seen by becoming the first ever two time Olympic singles gold medalist.
Their route to the final has been quite similar in the fact that they both got here without much in the way of adversity other than dropping one or two sets here and there. The closest being earlier today when Ma Long perhaps had a bit of white line fever, dropping two sets to Jun Mizutani after going three nil up. We have seen Ma Long in the past letting his nerves get the better of him which has been well documented but if the world championships are anything to go by this problem appears to have been rectified.
Zhang Jike on the other hand never seemed to have this problem, his main issue recently looks to have been motivation and lack of it. But if anything is going to motivate him this final definitely is. The chance of creating history and defeating his fierce rival on the grandest stage surely will bring out the best in him. Whatever happens we are guaranteed to be in for a treat and will finally put to bed the topic of who is the superior of the two Chinamen.
Full details of the match can be seen below, as well as the head to head history between them.
Ma Long vs Zhang Jike head to head! Via ITTF.com
Schedule this evening (11th August):
Vladimir Samsonov vs Jun Mizutani: Men's Singles Bronze Medal Match (Local time: 8.30pm - GMT: 12.30am)
Ma Long vs Zhang Jike: Men's Singles Gold Medal Match (Local time: 9.30pm - GMT: 1.30am)
For all the latest news, results and live streams from the Rio Olympics click here.
Find out who Paul Drinkhall thinks will win the Rio Olympics in our special edition podcast with Paul live in the Olympic village.
For all the latest news, results and live streams from the Rio Olympics click here.
Like and tweet our articles to the World. Lets spread the word of Table Tennis.
Written by: Thomas Jeffcott
TableTennisDaily
Ma Long vs Zhang Jike! The final showdown! - Via ITTF Flickr
If Ma Long wins he silences his critics that say he can’t do it on the biggest stage, and would become China’s 5th men’s singles champion. If Zhang Jike wins you would be hard pressed to deny him the title of being the greatest player the world of table tennis has ever seen by becoming the first ever two time Olympic singles gold medalist.
Their route to the final has been quite similar in the fact that they both got here without much in the way of adversity other than dropping one or two sets here and there. The closest being earlier today when Ma Long perhaps had a bit of white line fever, dropping two sets to Jun Mizutani after going three nil up. We have seen Ma Long in the past letting his nerves get the better of him which has been well documented but if the world championships are anything to go by this problem appears to have been rectified.
Zhang Jike on the other hand never seemed to have this problem, his main issue recently looks to have been motivation and lack of it. But if anything is going to motivate him this final definitely is. The chance of creating history and defeating his fierce rival on the grandest stage surely will bring out the best in him. Whatever happens we are guaranteed to be in for a treat and will finally put to bed the topic of who is the superior of the two Chinamen.
Full details of the match can be seen below, as well as the head to head history between them.
Ma Long vs Zhang Jike head to head! Via ITTF.com
Schedule this evening (11th August):
Vladimir Samsonov vs Jun Mizutani: Men's Singles Bronze Medal Match (Local time: 8.30pm - GMT: 12.30am)
Ma Long vs Zhang Jike: Men's Singles Gold Medal Match (Local time: 9.30pm - GMT: 1.30am)
For all the latest news, results and live streams from the Rio Olympics click here.
Find out who Paul Drinkhall thinks will win the Rio Olympics in our special edition podcast with Paul live in the Olympic village.
For all the latest news, results and live streams from the Rio Olympics click here.
Like and tweet our articles to the World. Lets spread the word of Table Tennis.
Written by: Thomas Jeffcott
TableTennisDaily
