What the H3LL did I get myself into this time....

[Gozo Zyreruna]

I promised videos and my friend just send me the vid. I shall not bore you with whole match; but just the highlights for your entertainment purpose. To recap, my opponent is twenty years younger than I am and is a full time coach and formerly a Malaysia National Player. My opponent is even wearing a sponsored T-shirt with his name on it and that is one sign you are facing someone way way way above your league.

NB: The remainder of the video is too comical to be publicly shown ( read: Me no show you all my SUXS moments ), to save me from much embarrassment, I will show only the watchable parts. Bloopers have been omitted.

 

[Tyce]

Hey, there's no "Success" without a little bit of "sucks" in it

 

[Lazer]

I promised videos and my friend just send me the vid. I shall not bore you with whole match; but just the highlights for your entertainment purpose. To recap, my opponent is twenty years younger than I am and is a full time coach and formerly a Malaysia National Player. My opponent is even wearing a sponsored T-shirt with his name on it and that is one sign you are facing someone way way way above your league.
View attachment 30562
View attachment 30563
View attachment 30564

View attachment 30565

View attachment 30566

View attachment 30566

NB: The remainder of the video is too comical to be publicly shown ( read: Me no show you all my SUXS moments ), to save me from much embarrassment, I will show only the watchable parts. Bloopers have been omitted.

What is this Gozo? Is that Donic on your back?? being unfaithful are we?

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

What is this Gozo? Is that Donic on your back?? being unfaithful are we?

Cheers
L-zr

Donic is cheaper... pls pls pls don't report
me to Tomasu Japan Ltd, ok? I'll do anything you ask.

 

[Lazer]

Donic is cheaper... pls pls pls don't report
me to Tomasu Japan Ltd, ok? I'll do anything you ask.

You let me win next time we’ll meet…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[NetProphet]

So how did the matches go? What weird the scores? Styles of other players and tactics as you played them? How did you find it all?
Did you enjoy, learn much, would you do it again?
Aggressive questioning I know but I'm genuinely interested. I'll be gutted to follow this thread without knowing how it all went!!!

 

[NextLevel]

I promised videos and my friend just send me the vid. I shall not bore you with whole match; but just the highlights for your entertainment purpose. To recap, my opponent is twenty years younger than I am and is a full time coach and formerly a Malaysia National Player. My opponent is even wearing a sponsored T-shirt with his name on it and that is one sign you are facing someone way way way above your league.
View attachment 30562
View attachment 30563
View attachment 30564

View attachment 30565

View attachment 30566

View attachment 30566

NB: The remainder of the video is too comical to be publicly shown ( read: Me no show you all my SUXS moments ), to save me from much embarrassment, I will show only the watchable parts. Bloopers have been omitted.

IMHO, being embarrassed by your play against a player 500+ points above you (likely closer to and possibly over 1000 points) is a waste of time. If you got more than 3 points in any game that was an achievement. There are things I like about your stroke form (your elbow stabiliry still looks good even if it isnt always obvious you are spinning) but they are not very important against a player you have no chance against. Mote important to see how it translates when you really have a chance to win. If you had the bloopers in a match you had a chance to win, that is more understandable as a reason to be embarrassed but even then, ultimately everything is a learning experience when you haven't played for 5 years.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Saw your videos Mr Gozo
1), don't apologies to your opponent (first video). or maybe if you worried he will come 10 folds back, then, its okay, apologies
(jokes aside now)
2) backhand, learn to go cross court. You landing those to the center.
Your FH is good, because you going for the corner.
If you can get that BH to the other corner, then you would be a tougher opponent to play against, and your opponent will need to run around a lot.

Overall, good clips against stronger opponents.
You can keep your chin high!

 

[d3nium]

Well played Gozo mate!

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

So how did the matches go? What weird the scores? Styles of other players and tactics as you played them? How did you find it all?
Did you enjoy, learn much, would you do it again?
Aggressive questioning I know but I'm genuinely interested. I'll be gutted to follow this thread without knowing how it all went!!!

Let me write a log:
1. I woke up at 0500 and left my house at 0615.
2. Reached the venue at 0730, parked my car and entered the playing hall at 0745.
3. At that time, the hall was already packed with many players busy warming up.
4. None of my team mates were there at that time. I could not warm up as I know no one there. Instead, I stalked some of the National Players to pose for photograph with them. I engaged them with some small talk. Generally they are friendly and eager to appease their fan.
5. Around 0830 one by one my team mate stroll in casually. They too did not do any warming up as all the tables ( 12 tables in total ) were fully occupied by serious team.
6. I do not know anyone from my team as I was a last minute add on just to make up the number. I also heard that one team mate pulled out at the last minute and was replaced by another person.
6a. Two were absent: One had an family emergency ( mum was suddenly hospitalized ) and did not turn up while another was incommunicado. Nonetheless, the team captain remained pretty chill about the whole episode. I would have lost my cool, if I were the captain. Thank god I wasn't the captain.
7. Hence, from an eight member team, we are now a six member team, meaning we are just on quota. If one got injured, we will have to let a one game walkover.
8. True enough, one member got slightly injured after the first game but he was good for doubles, he said.
9. No one wanted to play doubles and I sort of sheepishly volunteered to remove the impasse. So, here I am, set to play doubles with a total stranger whom I have never lay eyes upon prior. We had no chemistry and it was pure disaster against those well prepared team. But I soldiered on and played. Hence in total I played one singles and two doubles.
10. Unfortunately in the commotion and excitement of the whole bruhaha, I forgot to press the record button during my double matches and I only realized it after the match ended. Hence in terms of video, I only got my singles match recorded.
10a. In the doubles match we did poorly as we do not have the chemistry. Well, what do you expect when we were both complete strangers. It is like trying to tie the holy matrimony with your blind date. Imagine that and you will get the idea.
11. Back to my singles' match. My team were the first to play and they chose me to play the first singles. Yup! No warm-up ( all tables were occupied ), in a hall that has all the A/C in full blast, like playing in a cold room of a supermarket. All the joints are stiff and poppy. I missed many of my shots that in regular play would have scored.
12. As for the result, in all my three games, that is, one singles and two doubles, my score were 0-3 and all the sets were under five. Yes under five. I had everything stacked against me.
13. So, my friend, thanks for asking and may you enjoy reading my activity log.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Saw your videos Mr Gozo
1), don't apologies to your opponent (first video). or maybe if you worried he will come 10 folds back, then, its okay, apologies
(jokes aside now)
2) backhand, learn to go cross court. You landing those to the center.
Your FH is good, because you going for the corner.
If you can get that BH to the other corner, then you would be a tougher opponent to play against, and your opponent will need to run around a lot.

Overall, good clips against stronger opponents.
You can keep your chin high!

Instinctively I apologized. Hey, when you go up against a national player and gave him a hard one, you will feel obliged to apologize. It is like going against Mike Tyson and you land a hard one on him in the first minute of the fight. You want to make sure he will go easy on you the next few rounds. So I apologized.

Thanks for the vote of confidence on the FH Tony. I still cannot do those proper FH loopy topspinny stroke when under pressure and will resort to those FH slap instead. Oh well, it did score me some points, so can't complain, especially when you are under so much pressure against a super strong opponent. At least I know that this is how my FH will be like when under immense pressure. FH Gozo(tm) style!

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

IMHO, being embarrassed by your play against a player 500+ points above you (likely closer to and possibly over 1000 points) is a waste of time. If you got more than 3 points in any game that was an achievement. There are things I like about your stroke form (your elbow stabiliry still looks good even if it isnt always obvious you are spinning) but they are not very important against a player you have no chance against. Mote important to see how it translates when you really have a chance to win. If you had the bloopers in a match you had a chance to win, that is more understandable as a reason to be embarrassed but even then, ultimately everything is a learning experience when you haven't played for 5 years.

NL,

In two out of three sets, I got above three points. So, in accordance to your standard, I out-performed the objective. I am not sure what you mean by the statement, "... even if it isn't obvious you are spinning... ". Are you saying I did spin the ball or is it the contrary?

In total, as a serious player, meaning training under a paid coach, I have two and half years under my belt. Prior to that, I was a rec / basement type player for many years.

 

[NextLevel]

NL,

In two out of three sets, I got above three points. So, in accordance to your standard, I out-performed the objective. I am not sure what you mean by the statement, "... even if it isn't obvious you are spinning... ". Are you saying I did spin the ball or is it the contrary?

In total, as a serious player, meaning training under a paid coach, I have two and half years under my belt. Prior to that, I was a rec / basement type player for many years.

You played reasonably well then. Posting only the highlights you like is a personal choice. I am pointing out though that such image conservation doesn't really have value for improving your game in my experience.

I am saying that it isn't obvious you did but that it doesn't matter when you play someone with that level difference, you just hit the ball or whatever you like, have fun and call it a day. Your form looked stable and that is important. Showing only good points doesn't do anything though it might be important for you.

 

[NetProphet]

Let me write a log:
1. I woke up at 0500 and left my house at 0615.
2. Reached the venue at 0730, parked my car and entered the playing hall at 0745.
3. At that time, the hall is already packed with many players busy warming up.
4. None of my team mates were there at that time. I could not warm up asI know no one there. So, instead I stalk some of the National Players to pose for photograph with them. I chat with them a little. Generally they are friendly and eager to appease their fan.
5. Around 0830 one by one my team mate stroll in casually. They too did not do any warming up as all the tables ( 12 tables in total ) are fully occupied by serious team.
6. I do not know anyone from my team as I was a last minute add on just to make up the number. I also heard that one team mate pulled out at the last minute and was replaced by another person.
6a. Two were absent: One had an family emergency ( mum was suddenly hospitalized ) and did not turn up while another was incommunicado. Nonetheless, the team captain remained pretty chill about the whole episode. I would have lost my cool, if I were the captain. Thank god I wasn't the captain.
7. So, from an eight member team, we are now a six member team, meaning we are just on quota. If one got injured, we will have to give a one game walkover.
8. True enough one member got slightly injured after the first game but he was good for doubles, he said.
9. No one wanted to play doubles and I sort of sheepishly volunteered to remove the impasse. So, here I am, set to play doubles with a total stranger whom I have never lay eyes on prior. We had no chemistry and it was pure disaster against those well prepared team. But I soldiered on and played. Hence I in total I play one singles and two doubles.
10. Unfortunately in the commotion and excitement of the whole bruhaha, I forget to press the record button during my double matches. Only realized it after the match ended. Hence in terms of video, I only got my singles match recorded.
10a. In the doubles match we did poorly as we do not have the chemistry. Well, what do you expect when we were both complete stranger. It is like trying to tie the holy matrimony with your blind date. Imagine that and you will get the idea.
11. Back to my singles' match. My team were the first to play and they choose me to play the first singles. Yup! No warm-up ( all tables were occupied ), in a hall that has all the A/C in full blast, like playing in a cold room of a supermarket. All the joints are stiff and poppy. I missed many of my shots that in regular play would have scored.
12. As for the result, in all my three gaes, that is, one singles and two doubles, my score were 0-3 and all the sets were under five. Yes under five. I had everything stacked against me.
13. So, my friend, thanks for asking and may you enjoy reading my activity log.

Wow! That's a real experience man 👊
Stepping out of your comfort zone like that ain't easy at all but can only be good in the end, and it seems like you managed to have some fun as well.
Gotta say, I admire you greatly for doing it and I appreciate the details too, was intrigued as to how a tournament like that would have been organised and played out.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Saw your videos Mr Gozo
2) backhand, learn to go cross court. You landing those to the center.
Your FH is good, because you going for the corner.
If you can get that BH to the other corner, then you would be a tougher opponent to play against, and your opponent will need to run around a lot.

Overall, good clips against stronger opponents.
You can keep your chin high!

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

You played reasonably well then. Posting only the highlights you like is a personal choice. I am pointing out though that such image conservation doesn't really have value for improving your game in my experience.

I am saying that it isn't obvious you did but that it doesn't matter when you play someone with that level difference, you just hit the ball or whatever you like, have fun and call it a day. Your form looked stable and that is important. Showing only good points doesn't do anything though it might be important for you.

Oh I see! The whole match I have already sent to my coach and hopefully he will view it and address the most pressing weakness I have, not to win against National Level player, but at least to take some sets against my club level Tier-1 player first.

 

[NextLevel]

Oh I see! The whole match I have already sent to my coach and hopefully he will view it and address the most pressing weakness I have, not to win National Level player, but rather to win against my club level Tier-1 player first.

Yeah, such matches don't teach you much. That Tony managed to even notice you hit your backhand to the middle of the table which means you aren't catching the left side of the ball is why he is a serious coach and I play one on the internet. Obviously you aren't going to become a very physical player any time soon, but the fact that on most strokes except a few understandable forehands, your elbow was broadly in the right place is a good start. Obviously, to play that way with stable elbow position, one needs either footwork or great anticipation, you probably need to improve your placement along the lines of what Tony was saying (hit the corners) so that you can be fairly sure at the levels that you play that most opponents at that level will just give you the ball back from where you played it and this will reduce your footwork and anticipation demands.

 

[longle]

good game @Gozo Aruna , you played your best and more important, you served cleanly

 

[longle]

The Vietnam team will participate in the next tournament in Indonesia. This time the current top national team members are going China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore are also participating

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

The Vietnam team will participate in the next tournament in Indonesia. This time the current top national team members are going China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore are also participating

I hope they don't have to deal with illegally modified long-pimples. According to Adam Bobrow, it is very prevalent in INA, at least in their amateur setting. Maybe in the pro-level, things are different.