Paris Olympic Games 2024

[zeio]

Due to the dominance of the Chinese, I think what's been overlooked a bit is that the men actually got pretty unlucky this tournament. It started with the draw, particularly WCQ's. As the #1 seed he drew the #39 seed Yang Wang as his first round opponent, which is pretty high for a Ro64 opponent. For the second round he could face anywhere from the #17 seed down to #67/qualifier, and he drew the #19 seed Moregard. The only 2 seeds higher than Moregard are Kallberg at #18 and Groth at #17, and even before the Olympics few can argue that they'd rather play Moregard than Kallberg or Groth. In the entire 17< seed field I can only see #31 Noshad Alamiyan with similar giant-slaying possibility as Moregard, with Kallberg just behind. If he had faced say #32 seed Pucar instead, and then #16 seed in the Ro16 who is Assar, then he IMO would've had 2 relatively easy games to get over his broken racket.

For the men's team they drew Korea in the quarterfinals, which at least on paper was arguably the hardest quarterfinals opponent. It wouldn't have even been arguable IMO if Korea brought LSS instead of CDS for whatever reason. Then you get into the actual games, my goodness the amount of lucky edges and nets France had against China, particularly in the 2 singles matches. It was wild how uneven it was. The TT Karma was certainly not very instantaneous there!

Hmm, he has a history of crashing out early in the past.

WCQ and LGY left behind the worst results for China in 39 years at Asian Cup 2022 in Nov, with the former having come off 2 titles at WTT CS Macao 2022 and WTT CF Xinxiang 2022 a little over 2 weeks earlier. Same thing for WTT SCT ESS 2022 in Jul where he won and then he crashed out of WTT CS ESS 2022 the next week.

For MT, WCQ has lost to multiple players from 3 of the 4 potential QFinalists - LJH and JWJ of KOR (5), LYJ of TPE (6) (almost lost to Kao Cheng-Jui in MT of ATTC 2023), Karlsson and Moregard of SWE (7), POR (8), so the draw really didn't matter, which would have been tough for him anyway.

With all that I made that post about him back in Apr when many people were pretty confident he was going to win in Paris 2024.

 

[turbozed]

Interesting video that attempts to shed some light on maybe why the CNT looked so displeased by Chen Meng winning gold.

I don't take it was 100% gospel. The channel is generally critical of China. But she does provide some details I didnt know about, like companies already having ad campaigns ready for SYS's gold and things like that.

Also mentions how a similar situation happened in badminton in the past and the fallout from that.

The video is also argues that the vast majority of medals that China is winning isnt due to homegrown interest in the actual sports, but mostly due to state sponsored geopolitical strategy. This results in a degradation of popular sports culutre in general. I'll let you guys decide whether that's a worthwhile criticism.

For balance reasons, I'd like someone to find good counterarguments to these claims argued in as coherent a way as this lady.

 

[M51]

Sounds like one of those "CCP bad" propaganda videos that keep telling us China is going to sh#t.

I guess we'll never know because the link you posted doesn't work.

 

[turbozed]

Sounds like one of those "CCP bad" propaganda videos that keep telling us China is going to sh#t.

I guess we'll never know because the link you posted doesn't work.

It's okay you've made up your mind about it anyway and weren't going to watch.

But thanks for letting me know

 

[driversbeat]

Sounds like one of those "CCP bad" propaganda videos that keep telling us China is going to sh#t.

I guess we'll never know because the link you posted doesn't work.

Whatever the case, not congratulating an athlete for their Herculan effort is just plain rude. Chen Meng won her singles Olympic berth and Olympic gold fair and square.

 

[zeio]

A breakthrough tournament that changes perception is something Annett Kaufmann had, with repeated breakthrough performances, thumping Lily, Batra, Akula, and Miwa. Moregard had one upset with an asterisk, and otherwise performed well but nothing spectacular. This also doesn't change the fact that he's a tough draw for any top seed in a Ro 32.

Still early to tell for Kaufmann, who didn't have high expectations beforehand would've performed better with less pressure. People will study her from now on. Think Miwa. She has had a hard time against non-CNT players that you wouldn't have expected since WTTC 2024. Moregard had lost left and right for over 2 years after WTTC 2021. I still expect him to keep that trend after this, especially to European players, who are less prone to his "creative" style.

 

[zeio]

Whatever the case, not congratulating an athlete for their Herculan effort is just plain rude. Chen Meng won her singles Olympic berth and Olympic gold fair and square.

CM wouldn't have gotten her singles spot had the CNT not been forced by the Central Government to kick out WYD by extending the deadline. WMY would've been the one to play WS with the original deadline.

 

[M51]

It's okay you've made up your mind about it anyway and weren't going to watch.

I watched for a few minutes. Auntie looks like she has a huge "Xi Jinping killed my dog" chip on her shoulder.

Anyway, I just rewatched the final game between Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng, didn't hear any boos, and the Chinese crowd was definitely divided, but what struck me the most was the non-amused look on Liu Guoliang's face. Clearly, this evil state apparatchik was pissed that the wrong girl won.

Anyway, the video was made in bad faith and shame on you for posting it.

 

[zeio]

Sounds like one of those "CCP bad" propaganda videos that keep telling us China is going to sh#t.

I guess we'll never know because the link you posted doesn't work.

Well, 以己度人 eventually boomerangs unto the perpetrator.

WADA statement on Reuters story exposing USADA scheme in contravention of World Anti-Doping Code
https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wa...a-scheme-contravention-world-anti-doping-code

Being put in this impossible position, WADA had no choice but to agree (after verifying with its Intelligence and Investigations Department that the security threat was credible). The athlete’s doping was therefore never made public.

 

[driversbeat]

Criticism against Harimoto is so strong that even JOC has stepped to issue a statement, lol?

“張本智和への負担が大きかった”良い面も不安な面も【解説】 | NHK

【NHK】「若いチームの良い面も出たが、不安な面も出た。張本智和選手への負担が大きかった」パリオリンピック、卓球男子団体の３位決定…

www3.nhk.or.jp

張本智和への負担が大きかった”良い面も不安な面も​

Huge burden on Tomozaku Harimoto reveals good and bad sides (of the young team)

張本選手は「2人はチームメートというより友達」

「それぞれの性格が違うからこそうまくかみ合った。みんな違ってみんな良い。足りないところをみんなでカバーし合ったチームだった」

「4年後は大舞台で勝ち切れるよう、僕たちができるのは頑張り続けることだけ」と話した張本選手。

Tomozaku: Rather than teammates, the two of them are like friends to me.

We mesh well with each other because our personalities are different.
This is a team where we're able to cover for each other's weaknesses.

To win on the big stage for years later, all we can do is to continue fighting.

試合がなかった8日、一切練習せず3人で話し合い『欲しかったのは銅メダルじゃないが、今できることはそのメダルをとることだけだ』

Rather than training on August 8th, the three Japanese players held a discussion. "The Bronze medal wasn't what we wanted, but all we can do now is to fight for that medal"

篠塚選手は「張本選手に頼ってばかりだったので自分がもっと強くならないといけない」と話せば、田勢邦史監督も「スウェーデン戦で切れた糸を張本選手がもう一度つないでくれたが、21歳でエース、半端ではないプレッシャーだったと思う」と話しました。

Shinozuka: I relied on Harimoto too much, I must get stronger.
Tasei: Harimoto was able to gain back the momentum that was broken in the match against Sweden, but the pressure on a 21-year old ace is no joke.

【卓球】張本智和が涙目で「僕が勝てば…」と責任痛感　ネット上では誹謗中傷も | 東スポWEB

パリ五輪の卓球男子団体３位決定戦（９日、パリ南アリーナ）が行われ、日本は１―３と敗れてメダルを...

www.tokyo-sports.co.jp

【卓球】張本智和が涙目で「僕が勝てば…」と責任痛感　ネット上では誹謗中傷も​

[Table Tennis] "If only I had won..." says teary eyed Harimoto while bearing responsibility and slander online

スウェーデン戦もフランス戦も、僕が勝てば終わっていたので…。２人は責任を感じる必要はないと思う。僕が今日２番勝っていれば勝てていたので

In both matches against Sweden and France, the matches would have been over if I had won. The other two don't have to feel responsible. We would have won if I had won the second match today.

日本オリンピック委員会（ＪＯＣ）は「ＳＮＳ等を通じた皆さまからの激励・応援メッセージは、アスリート、監督・コーチへの大きな力となっています。その一方で、心ない誹謗中傷、批判等に心を痛めるとともに不安や恐怖を感じることもあります。ＴＥＡＭ　ＪＡＰＡＮを応援いただく皆さまには、誹謗中傷などを拡散することなく、ＳＮＳ等での投稿に際しては、マナーを守っていただきますよう改めてお願い申し上げます。侮辱、脅迫などの行き過ぎた内容に対しては、警察への通報や法的措置も検討いたします」

The Japan Olympic Committee also issued a statement "Your encouragement online has been a great support for our athletes, supervisors, and coaches. However, we have also felt dread and anxiety from heartless slander. To everyone who has been supporting TEAM JAPAN, we sincerely ask that you do not spread slander online once again. We will consider taking action against insulting and coercive content that crosses the line.

【卓球】張本智和も勝利目前から逆転負け　SNSに「またあと１歩」「このパターン多い」嘆く声 - 卓球 - パリオリンピック2024 : 日刊スポーツ

3大会連続のメダル獲得を目指す日本のエース張本智和（21）は激闘の末に惜敗した。日本は第1試合のダブルスで1－3で敗戦。第2試合のシングルスに登場した張本が善… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

張本智和も勝利目前から逆転負け　SNSに「またあと１歩」「このパターン多い」嘆く声​

Harimoto suffers reversal after coming so close to victory. "Just missing that one final step", "This scenario keeps happening" and other sighs of lamentations on social media

X（旧ツイッター）などのSNSでは「勝ちが目の前にぶら下がってからの、追いつかれ逆転負け…　今回のオリンピック、このパターン多いな」「ああ…またあと1歩に泣かされる」

Netizens on X (old twitter) and other social media platforms commented "Reversed after having victory dangled in front of our eyes... this pattern has been so common this Olympics", "So close yet so far again, makes me want to cry"

卓球ファンからは「まだ終わってないよ」「戸上くん、最年長の意地を見せてくれ」

Other fans also said "It's not over yet". "Togami displayed a mature spirit as the oldest of the team."

 

[M51]

Japanese fans have been throwing mud at Harimoto on X?

 

[dingyibvs]

So you haven't noticed his clear and continuing improvement on the backhand side? And better fitness. Seems quicker also especially covering wide forehand. Not to mention he's only 22. And you seriously think his game is capped?

Let me rephrase, his current game (i.e. style) is capped. He needs a change in style more so than improvement in his existing techniques. His excessive use of BH chop style returns whether it's blocks against loops or returning short balls is not a net positive. @Tony's Table Tennis mentioned that he practices the chop block for an hour every day, he needs to stop doing that.

His most effective BH shot is the Waldner style punch block. It's not an Adrianna Diaz style thundering one, but it's safer and more deceptive. Chop blocks are kinda like long pips, it's not very effective if a player is ready for it. Use it sparingly, and practice it only you've got the full array of fundamentals where they need to be.

His BH right now is insufficient. I don't know what you're seeing but I don't see any improvement. He still doesn't know how to do the "tear/break", only the power BH. Xu Xin pointed this out in his live commentary of the Men's Singles finals as well. It's great against players who can only play the fast BH game but falters when the opponent knows how to play the spin game.

If you pay attention to his teams match against FZD, in the 2nd set he was dominated by FZD's spin based BH technique. In the 3rd set he changed tactics and started using the punch block and more aggressive pivots to build an early lead. FZD came back by adjusting his tactics with pushes wide/long to the BH and more loops to Moregard's FH. They traded points until FZD pulled away late with a Moregard BH loop miss (shows his weak BH spin game) and another BH miss on a spinny, slow, short FZH BH loop (difficult shot to punch block). In the 4th game Moregard absolutely dominated the service/receive game, but tactically was doing the same thing allowing FZD to get a game point. Truls then gets 3 out of the next 4 points via the service/receive game, and finishes the set with an effective punch block. In the 5th set he was even in the service receive game, and it was not pretty. He attempted 2 chop blocks, both of which were hammered back for FZD winners.

 

[turbozed]

I watched for a few minutes. Auntie looks like she has a huge "Xi Jinping killed my dog" chip on her shoulder.

Anyway, I just rewatched the final game between Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng, didn't hear any boos, and the Chinese crowd was definitely divided, but what struck me the most was the non-amused look on Liu Guoliang's face. Clearly, this evil state apparatchik was pissed that the wrong girl won.

Anyway, the video was made in bad faith and shame on you for posting it.

You've made zero arguments against the points she raised. You've just made personal attacks against her, and now me.

Try again to engage in good faith. If not then you just go on my ignore list.

 

[Shine]

Her videos encapsulate the worst of the conspiracy theories about the CCP out there. That's how you know her comments are likely not in good faith. I wouldn't be surprised if she's linked to Falun Gong and their sprawling networks of affiliates/associates, they're notorious for videos of this kind tbh.

 

[turbozed]

Her videos encapsulate the worst of the conspiracy theories about the CCP out there. That's how you know her comments are likely not in good faith. I wouldn't be surprised if she's linked to Falun Gong and their sprawling networks of affiliates/associates, they're notorious for videos of this kind tbh.

Cool more dodging of the actual arguments and poisoning the well.

If you want us to believe these are the worst conspiracy theories and have no merit, demonstrate it.

For balance reasons, I'd like someone to find good counterarguments to these claims argued in as coherent a way as this lady.

Still not seeing any takers on this.

 

[M51]

Her videos encapsulate the worst of the conspiracy theories about the CCP out there. That's how you know her comments are likely not in good faith. I wouldn't be surprised if she's linked to Falun Gong and their sprawling networks of affiliates/associates, they're notorious for videos of this kind tbh.

She has "fringe religious sect" written all over her.

I'm so done with people who disseminate that sort of poison.

 

[Shine]

This is not the first time that two Chinese players will be in a final, and the majority of the crowd will cheer for one of them. You can go back in time and watch videos of Chn Vs Chn finals with ML or FZD against any of the supporting cast, or even ML Vs FZD, you'll rarely hear anyone cheer for the underdog, and there was certainly no time where victory over a team member was cheered on passionately by other team members. Are Chinese fans not allowed to have fan clubs??So criticisms of their behaviour in the final is cherry picking faults outta thing air as usual.

Besides it's common practice for Chinese companies to try to take advantage of a potential result to sell their wares. That has nothing to do with the CCP or any machinations. I'm sure if you probe around enough there are companies with productions lines of apparel depicting Trump or Kamala as the winner. It's just business mindedness. If CCP restricts these kinds of businesses, people like her would be the first to cry out that it's unfair.

On the issue of the Olympics. Countries have similar motivations for investing in the Olympics, they want to win laurels, they want to get national honor, and they want their athletes to shine on the biggest stage. What's geopolitical about this?? Are the 60 million or so table tennis players/enthusiasts into TT because of CCP designs?? So, I don't think she has a point here either.


There are easier things to use to talk aplenty about Chinese geopolitical strategies; Belt&Road, MIC2025, Modernization of the military. What significant geopolitical edge does winning the Olympics give China??

 

[Shine]

Cool more dodging of the actual arguments and poisoning the well.

If you want us to believe these are the worst conspiracy theories and have no merit, demonstrate it.



Still not seeing any takers on this.

Of course it makes sense to you, you and her are paranoid whenever Xi Jinping goes to the toilet, or is a minute late to an event. Enjoy these videos bruh.

 

[driversbeat]

Germany's chances of winning bronze will likely be decided on whether they can take the first doubles.

 

[turbozed]

Whatever happens I'm just hoping to see a Kaufman vs SYB matchup.