Paris Olympic Games 2024

This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Active Member
Jul 2019
533
437
1,989
I think the bronze mens match indicates a promising future for players on both teams, but a couple of questions occur. For the Lebrun's I wonder has the coach planned an intense year of gym time for the brothers? Alex seems quite shockingly flabby round the middle for instance. I wonder would the bothers cooperate with a regime to preserve their dazzling speed?. I would hate to see Felix acquire a "spare tire" too early in life. France need to ensure the physical health and development of their squad for the future. Maybe the government will invest?
On the Japanese side I wonder if TH will learn to conserve a bit of emotional energy by moderating his shouting?
More interestingly Shinozuka is a puzzle any coach would like to have. He seems to play just an ordinary game yet he shows himself to be so comfortable while playing against Felix's brilliance and Felix is often troubled by his placement and variation when Felix seems to read other players with ridiculous ease.
I. hope we get to see. more of Shinoxuka because there is a lot to be learned.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Sims
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Jul 2024
63
97
178
Let me summarize my experience. I attended the men's team final at Paris Arena Sud 4. I almost missed the start because I was watching everything from home in a different time zone. I thought I had 2 hours before the match, but it turned out to be 1 hour. I had to rush to the arena (about 30 minutes away). When I arrived, there was a huge crowd of Chinese fans ahead of me, so I definitely wasn't the last one.

The venue was packed. The vast majority of the audience was from China. I saw two Swedish flags, and there was a noisy fan near me who managed to outshout the Chinese supporters.

The Chinese fans were quiet and reserved individually, but when someone started a chant in support of a player, the entire arena joined in.

I believe the overwhelming fan support has an impact on players in critical moments.

Each match was close.

I was with my wife, and she couldn't see the dominance of China because the Swedes pushed every match to the decisive game, and the play was often evenly matched.

The fans were very loud in their support of Ma Long. It seemed like a large number of young women were cheering for WCQ.

As for the game itself, it looks significantly slower in real life than on the screen. Watching on screen is more convenient, but the atmosphere in the arena is fantastic.

The final score was 3-0 in favor of China, but the score doesn't reflect the gameplay. The Swedes played excellently. I really wanted Kristian Karlsson to beat WCQ, as it would have given us another chance to see FZD or Ma Long play. Kristian played very well, though I was hoping that Källberg would be chosen for the third game, as his chances of winning would have been higher.

During the match, the Chinese player who was scheduled to play next left to warm up with his personal coach. The Swedes didn't do this. During WCQ's match, the Chinese players sat on the bench, perhaps confident in the victory and not planning to warm up for the next game. When the score became tied, Wang Hao sent FZD to warm up, indicating that Ma Long wasn't initially planned for the singles matches.

WCQ played the fastest and most aggressively of all. FZD was ready to play a more defensive game, slightly farther from the table, counterattacking. Truls is a showman, and Karlsson is a fighter.

In the end, Ma Long became the first Chinese athlete to win 6 Olympic gold medals. FZD earned his gold in the individual event, and WCQ gained even more fans for his fan club.


IMG_9223 (1).jpg
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Jul 2024
63
97
178
Did You have a pair of minoculars?

Cheers
L-zr
No. Before going, I saw in photos and videos how far the stands were. I asked my coach, who had attended tournaments before (both as a player and as a spectator). He said that everything would be clearly visible. Indeed, I was sitting far back, but I could see everything just fine. I couldn't see the faces of the Chinese team members who were sitting on the side stands, but the gameplay itself was clearly visible without any issues.
 
This user has no status.
No. Before going, I saw in photos and videos how far the stands were. I asked my coach, who had attended tournaments before (both as a player and as a spectator). He said that everything would be clearly visible. Indeed, I was sitting far back, but I could see everything just fine. I couldn't see the faces of the Chinese team members who were sitting on the side stands, but the gameplay itself was clearly visible without any issues.
Wow, hard to believe but I suppose there is no other option, Glad you enjoyed.

Cheers
L-zr
 
  • Like
Reactions: Takkyu_wa_inochi
This user has no status.
The last day of Paris Olympics, CNT back to China, leaving Sun Yingsha(with her coach Qiu Yike) in Paris, since she received a special invitation to attend the closing ceremony, as the representative of Asian Athletes(and Table Tennis).

IMG_7618.jpeg

IMG_7607.jpeg


She has a perfect height to blow out the Olympic Flame, and she also has the rich experience of blowing….
IMG_7621.jpeg

IMG_7305.jpeg


shake hands with the G.O.A.T of the Marathon.
IMG_7606.jpeg


Crowded by all the athletes, we are the family of the table tennis.
IMG_7620.jpeg


IMG_7622.jpeg
 
says Fair Play first
says Fair Play first
Well-Known Member
Jan 2012
1,606
541
2,243
DWARFISH AND YET ATTRACTIVE.

THIS ALL looks like dwarfish game from distance 30 metres away from the playing court. Happily, the giant screens were a useful help for the attendants. Table tennis is a chamber sport unfit to be watched from a long distance, not suitable for spacious arenas. It is getting much more attractive when watched on TV.

hJzo43JfEjQ.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: lodro
says Pimples Schmimples
says Pimples Schmimples
Active Member
Sep 2022
898
933
3,493
I think the bronze mens match indicates a promising future for players on both teams, but a couple of questions occur. For the Lebrun's I wonder has the coach planned an intense year of gym time for the brothers? Alex seems quite shockingly flabby round the middle for instance. I wonder would the bothers cooperate with a regime to preserve their dazzling speed?. I would hate to see Felix acquire a "spare tire" too early in life. France need to ensure the physical health and development of their squad for the future. Maybe the government will invest?
On the Japanese side I wonder if TH will learn to conserve a bit of emotional energy by moderating his shouting?
More interestingly Shinozuka is a puzzle any coach would like to have. He seems to play just an ordinary game yet he shows himself to be so comfortable while playing against Felix's brilliance and Felix is often troubled by his placement and variation when Felix seems to read other players with ridiculous ease.
I. hope we get to see. more of Shinoxuka because there is a lot to be learned.
I feel the same about Shinozuka, well I wrote above that he reminds me of the plucky kid in the karate movies who always gets the crap kicked out of him!
But in the movies they always come good eh.

Having watched all the past 2 wks I don't know if any of these players, Truls, Harimoto, Felix, Shinozuka etc will ever get past the top Chinese though, especially if the Chinese level stays at that of Z Jike, Ma Long, FZD, an in form WCQ even.
There's a level there that only top form Timo and Dima threatened to reach but even they couldn't do it consistently. Timo beat a young Ma Long 3 times but that was 2005, 2008 & 2010. He has one victory V prime Ma Long in 2017 and Dima has never beaten him...
There's just so much information, intensity, training, mental toughness and absolute knowhow in Chinese TT that I can't see this crop surpassing it. Fan Zhendong is 12yrs on CNT already so I can hardly imagine the lessons from all he has played with and against in that time.
I know I'm not saying anything controversial or new here but the Olympics has served to remind me just how steep that hill is for everyone...
 
Last edited:
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Dec 2018
488
565
1,709
Read 1 reviews
https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2024/virtual-medal-table-forecast/
Top 10 G S B
1 USA 37 34 52
2 CHN 36 29 22
3 GBR 14 25 23
4 FRA 29 17 10
5 AUS 13 22 13
6 JPN 12 13 21
7 ITA 11 20 15
8 GER 10 12 15
9 NLD 17 08 09
10 KOR 08 05 16

Impressive virtual forecast. Got the top 10 correct in order, except for Netherlands and Germany swapping places at 8 and 9. As appropriate, France beat the forecast by the most medals.

Final Medal results

Top 10 G S B Total (difference from forecast)

  1. USA 40 44 42 126 (+3)
  2. China 40 27 24 91 (+4)
  3. Great Britain 14 22 29 65 (+3)
  4. France 16 26 22 64 (+8)
  5. Australia 18 19 16 53 (+5)
  6. Japan 20 12 13 45 (+1)
  7. Italy 12 13 15 40 (-6)
  8. Netherlands 15 7 12 34 (+0)
  9. Germany 12 13 8 33 (-4)
  10. South Korea 13 9 10 32 (+3)
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
Oct 2014
14,386
20,553
52,344
Read 17 reviews
I feel the same about Shinozuka, well I wrote above that he reminds me of the plucky kid in the karate movies who always gets the crap kicked out of him!
But in the movies they always come good eh.

Having watched all the past 2 wks I don't know if any of these players, Truls, Harimoto, Felix, Shinozuka etc will ever get past the top Chinese though, especially if the Chinese level stays at that of Z Jike, Ma Long, FZD, an in form WCQ even.
There's a level there that only top form Timo and Dima threatened to reach but even they couldn't do it consistently. Timo beat a young Ma Long twice but that was 2005 & 2008. He has one victory V prime Ma Long in 2017 and Dima has never beaten him...
There's just so much information, intensity, training, mental toughness and absolute knowhow in Chinese TT that I can't see this crop surpassing it. Fan Zhendong is 12yrs on CNT already so I can hardly imagine the lessons from all he has played with and against in that time.
I know I'm not saying anything controversial or new here but the Olympics has served to remind me just how steep that hill is for everyone...
When a team has a budget that allows it to build Ira own replica of the playing hall and get tournament balls in advance for private practice and fly out a boat load of training partners, you know it is playing a different game from everyone else.
 
says Spin and more spin.
says Spin and more spin.
Well-Known Member
Moderator
Dec 2010
16,458
18,128
56,020
Read 11 reviews
I feel the same about Shinozuka, well I wrote above that he reminds me of the plucky kid in the karate movies who always gets the crap kicked out of him!
But in the movies they always come good eh.

Having watched all the past 2 wks I don't know if any of these players, Truls, Harimoto, Felix, Shinozuka etc will ever get past the top Chinese though, especially if the Chinese level stays at that of Z Jike, Ma Long, FZD, an in form WCQ even.
There's a level there that only top form Timo and Dima threatened to reach but even they couldn't do it consistently. Timo beat a young Ma Long twice but that was 2005 & 2008. He has one victory V prime Ma Long in 2017 and Dima has never beaten him...
There's just so much information, intensity, training, mental toughness and absolute knowhow in Chinese TT that I can't see this crop surpassing it. Fan Zhendong is 12yrs on CNT already so I can hardly imagine the lessons from all he has played with and against in that time.
I know I'm not saying anything controversial or new here but the Olympics has served to remind me just how steep that hill is for everyone...

Just FYI:


Timo Boll also beat Ma Long in the 2010 WTTTC also: China vs Germany.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sims
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
Sep 2013
9,656
9,090
23,363
Read 3 reviews
I feel the same about Shinozuka, well I wrote above that he reminds me of the plucky kid in the karate movies who always gets the crap kicked out of him!
But in the movies they always come good eh.

Having watched all the past 2 wks I don't know if any of these players, Truls, Harimoto, Felix, Shinozuka etc will ever get past the top Chinese though, especially if the Chinese level stays at that of Z Jike, Ma Long, FZD, an in form WCQ even.
There's a level there that only top form Timo and Dima threatened to reach but even they couldn't do it consistently. Timo beat a young Ma Long twice but that was 2005 & 2008. He has one victory V prime Ma Long in 2017 and Dima has never beaten him...
There's just so much information, intensity, training, mental toughness and absolute knowhow in Chinese TT that I can't see this crop surpassing it. Fan Zhendong is 12yrs on CNT already so I can hardly imagine the lessons from all he has played with and against in that time.
I know I'm not saying anything controversial or new here but the Olympics has served to remind me just how steep that hill is for everyone...
China is loosing more and more games in both singles and teams.
it will soon be like badminton
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Aug 2022
281
161
567
Then got 3-0'ed right in the next Wtt starcon, we can't glaze that 3-4 lost forever. Togami has what it takes to be the best player Japan has ever seen, but he needs a coach that can give him wider tactics as well as train his mental toughness.

Shinozuka is like the opposite of Togami, calm and collected, good adaptability but his small physique hold him back from reaching new heights
Togami is too stupid. I like him and I think he has the biggest ceiling like no ceiling mffuca with Lil Wayne Voice but his Table Tennis IQ is low. What makes Waldner and Ma long or Jay Z and Lil Wayne as GOATS ?
Longevity and IQ. Smart moves. Knowledge.
Togami is spitting his super power shots and overshoot everything.
Ma long used Spirit, TB alc and he played like Togami super mechanical and super fast but in old celluloid balls you need get a lot of knowledge to fight with spinny loopers and know how to read a spin, how to put spin and get time to next powershoot and how to treat the ball well. Togami is like me white : 2400 elo in London opening and then 1000 elo when I play with black. His attacking skills are high but defensive skills are low. He is very good in open rallies but when someone counter his powershoots.... He is kind of second tier player. Karlsson, Ovtcharov and Truls are the best counter players on the table from Europe.
 
Top