Paris Olympic Games 2024

[pongfugrasshopper]

Win or lose, Christina Kallberg is showing herself to be quite the fighter. I'm sure there's others I'm missing, but Europe has some good up and coming young women: Pavade, Kaufmann, and Kallberg.

 

[turbozed]

Kao seems to be playing into Togami's speed and power game and it isn't working at all so far.

 

[NextLevel]

Other than WCQ in MS and Harimoto/Hayata in XD, the seeding positions for XD/WS/MS were well reflected in the SF (at least 3 of the top 4 seeds made it).

I agree on that and I know Japan are the favorites. But the Harimoto vs LYJ match would have had LYJ as the favorite if it happened in the MS. So to me it was always a toss up.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Togami enters the Avatar state.

 

[driversbeat]

Jeon Jihee fulfils her dream of getting into the medal rounds and facing China. After reliably winning points 1 and 3 for her team at three consecutive Olympics, Lee Eunhye finally comes through for her by winning the third crucial point. Bergand might have been a sure win on paper, but I'd bet that JJH wasn't going to leave a semifinal spot that has been eluding her for 8 years to chance. A bronze medal would be a perfect way to round out her career.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Taiwan has always been unlucky with timing. Lin needs
Kao at 2028
CCY at 2020

I think Feng would have done much better in that single
Tough love for Kao

 

[turbozed]

Togami is a beast when you give him the tempo he likes.

Aside from some serve variation, didn't look like Kao was able to do anything to break Togami's rhythm.

Japan is lucky the good Togami showed up today.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Togami is a beast when you give him the tempo he likes.

Aside from some serve variation, didn't look like Kao was able to do anything to break Togami's rhythm.

Japan is lucky the good Togami showed up today.

Kao didn’t pitch today sadly
even CCY would have a problem against Togami

 

[backspacer]

Bathroom break from Harimoto.

 

[zeio]

How many games can TPE mange here?

3 games only. Where did all that confidence originate?

 

[zeio]

Jeon Jihee fulfils her dream of getting into the medal rounds and facing China. After reliably winning points 1 and 3 for her team at three consecutive Olympics, Lee Eunhye finally comes through for her by winning the third crucial point. Bergand might have been a sure win on paper, but I'd bet that JJH wasn't going to leave a semifinal spot that has been eluding her for 8 years to chance. A bronze medal would be a perfect way to round out her career.

View attachment 31386

Plot twist: JPN loses to IND...

 

[NextLevel]

Plot twist: JPN loses to IND...

That is a massive plot twist given Hirano and Hayata know how to play pips and would be the favorites in the doubles and their individual matchups vs Akula and Giri Kamath. So I understand it but I don't see it. The Japanese took the mission seriously, you even see Idesawa in their cheering section. You aren't going to spring any surprises on Japan that they can't train for that's for sure, only if you never showed yourself before the event.

 

[NextLevel]

3 games only. Where did all that confidence originate?

How did you count 3? It was only 2.

The confidence originated from having the best player in the matchup (LYJ) and 2 players who could do well on a good day (CCY, KCJ). But they already lost the Teams matchup in Busan in the group stages so they were clearly the underdog. But even in losing that matchup, they played close matches.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

3 games only. Where did all that confidence originate?

The 2 first timers from Japan did pretty well. There is no doubt.

Taiwan was always the underdog and had to gamble with Lin playing Z or X and I believe they choose correctly.
Only question was CCY or Kao at Z and I think both would of failed today and possibly some other higher ranked players too.

btw, it's not called confidence, its called strategy.
Such a small island nations can hold even the likes of china (and usa and everyone else) by there balls, by using strategies too.

If only Taiwan was a more serious sporting nations.... or tt mad like Japan..... but for now, things has improved a lot since Tokyo's medal for both badminton and table tennis. Glad mens doubles badminton Taiwan KO China's WR1 pairing for gold medal. So hopefully more resources can trigger through to develop sports for the youngsters.

What surprises me is why JNT loves to train in Taiwan, despite, Japan having better resources and infrastructure?
Like why is Miyu Nagasaki in Taiwan and not Paris

btw, zeio, I heard china refused to broadcast the badminton mens double match live? is that true?

 

[Tiz]

The points for the Olympic games are in, here's the new Rankings:

• Fan is back to being n.2
• Calderano is n.3!
• Truls is back in top ten

 

[travelt123]

Harimoto returns to Felix his zeio bronze medal on bended knee with this loss.

Since Harimoto is the favorite vs CCY, and Lin vs Shinozuka, the next match between Togami and Kao is the decider.

Another thing to add, Harimoto plays his strongest game against FZD which is why the scores were close but gets absolutely clobbered when he plays WCQ on his good days.

 

[jbvttcc]

CCY and Kao managed to come back from 0-2 down to win the men's doubles.

Some cool facts
1) CCY is is 43 yrs old. Kao is is 19
2) CCY is Kao's coach
Is this the first time coach + student player are teaming up for doubles on the big events?

I shared previously, CCY is an academy owner + coach + active high level player.
Can't think of any one matching (all 3) this any time soon.

Pretty distinctive facts

 

[NextLevel]

Another thing to add, Harimoto plays his strongest game against FZD which is why the scores were close but gets absolutely clobbered when he plays WCQ on his good days.

This was true for Truls as well but something happened... so we should just focus a bit more on what the actual matches produced and a bit less on what happened in other matches in the past...

 

[jbvttcc]

Who is the chick commentating with Bobrow?

She just canceled Ryu Seungmin.

What did she say?

 

[zeio]

That is a massive plot twist given Hirano and Hayata know how to play pips and would be the favorites in the doubles and their individual matchups vs Akula and Giri Kamath. So I understand it but I don't see it. The Japanese took the mission seriously, you even see Idesawa in their cheering section. You aren't going to spring any surprises on Japan that they can't train for that's for sure, only if you never showed yourself before the event.

Hirano, yes. Hayata, no.

Remember Hayata lost to Batra 2-4 in 3rd place match after barely edging out DHK 4-3 in QF (with her golfer's elbow) at Asian Cup 2022 while still/after recovering from her injury from WTTC 2022. Compared to Hirano who took out Batra 3-1 at WTT CT Lima 2023 before withdrawing due to the leg cramp, Hayata has had a hard time beating pips (remember her H2H against Ito) when she is not in tip-top shape, hence my comments (workhorse Hirano and dumb Hayata).

Harimoto is still an unknown given that she mentioned about almost losing to DHK at WTTC 2024, that she didn't have the strength yet to win all her matches before the final but she will work hard to make that happen here.