Greatest of all time!
No other words needed 2x 🥇
Category: Olympics 2020
The women’s final Chen vs Sun!
Youth vs experience…
Chen over the past 3 years has been a super force in the world of women’s table tennis. I don’t see her losing this final.
What seems inevitable though, is Sun will be back to win this title in the future, or will she win today?
Ma and Fan final
There it is!
The inevitable, Ma and Fan are in the final…
BUT, they both had a huge scare and fight in the semi final’s. 11-9 in the last is truly anyone’s match and yet they both found a way to cross the line.
Is that due to; Belief? Tactic’s? Luck? Hard work paying off?
What could have Dima and Lin done differently to convert the match in their favour?
Behind every player, is a great coach
“Behind every player, is a great coach” I couldn’t have said any better!
Watching, talking and seeing these two Andreja Ojstersek Urh and Darko Jorgić over the past few years. Has given me hope, inspiration and even more love for our sport.
I first met Andreja, at the Olympic Qualification in Portugal and she made my eyes water. Telling me the back story of what she and her husband sacrificed for Jorgic and other TT players in Slovenia.
A coach that cares is a true coach and one that comes around rarely…
Darko beat Harimoto 🙌🏓
The special one, the one I’ve been consistently raving about over the past 3 years is making huge waves in the table tennis world!
What an incredible match 💪🏼🏓
4-3 Darko moves into the quarter finals…
The first Olympic Table Tennis Gold for Japan!
History has been made, mixed doubles was introduced and Japan took the opportunity to steal China’s stranglehold (Olympic TT domination).
Mima and Jun were sensational showing the world, a never give up attitude!! They saved 7 match points against Germany and came back from two games down against Xu and Liu (China) in the final.
Paul Drinkhall
Paul has stormed into the last 32 at the Tokyo Olympics, taking Robert Gardos (Austria) out 4-1.
Paul is looking in very good form at his 3rd games, and seems to be enjoying what may be his last Olympic.
Fan Zhendong – Can win the Olympics! #1
World no.1 and possibly the most ferocious player in history. His speed, power and aggression is computer game like! How he is able to blitz every ball machine like? Even the picture demonstrates that he’s super-human.
I don’t believe any player is capable of matching his speed and power. The only way he can be beaten is by using variation of speed, power, spin and placement. Implementing all these variations and keeping consistent is extremely difficult especially when you have a super force (FZD) coming at you…
This event is most likely going to crown him as the new Chinese king and take over the dragons title.
Achievements:
- World ranking no.1
- Silver medal World Championships
- 4x World Cup champion
Can Fan Zhendong really win?
You’re fooling yourself if you don’t think so. Fan is the favourite to come out with a gold medal around his neck.
What may stop him:
- Fan Zhendong, is machine like and if things are out of place, it can have a malfunction. Meaning if someone is able to find the switch off button, he can be beaten.
- Are the Chinese hierarchy’s going to have influence on the match? Or say may they best man win? If they do have influence I believe they would want to see Fan win, a so called hand over! If it’s best man win scenario, Ma Long may look at finding the switch off button, so he can walk away from the sport as the only man to win two single Olympic golds.
Popularity:
I think Fan is like but not loved! He’s speed and power is admired but few can connect to that sort of game. He is not in the game to win fans but win titles and it’s clear to see.
Personally I have never connected to him but in awe of his ability. Therefore I will not be routing for him even though the odds of him winning are higher than any other player in the draw.
Please share your thoughts and comments. And of course share the thread if you liked it…
It’s not the best advert, if one nation continues to dominate a sport, but it’s down to other nations to find a way of winning! 
Ma Long – Can win the Olympics! #2
The best player ever! Aged 16 he exploded onto the scene and I immediately connected to him. I told one of my players (Filip Szymanski), that Ma Long will become world no.1. I didn’t know he would go on to become virtually unbeatable!
This event is most likely going to be his last and the aim is simple, add to his legacy.
Achievements:
- Highest world ranking no.1
- Olympic Champion
- 3x World Champion
- World Cup champion
Can Ma Long really win?
I think it goes without saying, the answer is a simple yes! But here are the issues;
- Fan Zhendong, lays in his pathway, it’s around 50/50 between them both over the past 2-3 years.
- Is it time for Ma to hand over the torch? If he wins, it may hinder FZD’s confidence and future as the new Chinese captain.
I do believe if Ma reaches the final and Fan, is knocked out Ma will be crowned as the only player in history to Win 2x singles Olympic titles.
Tactically Ma Long knows how to beat Fan and I genuinely believe he will find the answers in the final if they meet. But my mind tells me that China want Fan to win and need him to carry the torch for the nation for the next 5-7 years before a new super star emerges.
Tactically: Ma will need to spread his ball placement and not give FZD rhythm. If he gets bogged down (BH to BH) and then Fan switches Ma wide to his fh. Then that’s FZD trade mark and no one in the world can go head to head with Fan in this encounter.
Popularity!
In my opinion Ma is the most loved Chinese player internally and externally ever. Which effectively means he will be routed for. If and possibly when he meets Fan in the final.
China, is definitely still the strongest TT nation in the world and if we are being realistic, it’s a strong bet that we will see a gold medal around a Chinese players neck! 🙌🏓
Personally I would love to see Ma win and retire on-top but my brain tells me it’s not going to happen!
Please share your thoughts and comments.
Tomokazu Harimoto – Can win the Olympics! #3
A phenom, when he was 11 years old, exploded onto the world table tennis scene in Sweden, when he reached the final of Safir’s!
7 years ago Harimoto went on to become world junior no.1 and won the world junior championships aged 13. He also reached the quarter finals of the mens singles WC in 2014.
Harimoto, is a fierce competitor, always fighting for each point and expresses his will physically and vocally. Was produced initially by his parents with a vision of one day their child would beat the formidable Chinese. Harimoto is without any doubt China’s biggest threat! Why? Because he has beaten both Ma and FZD in big events. But that’s not the main reason, it’s because he is so young and like any young person, they are able to adapt, change and develop at a faster rate compared to older athletes.
Harimoto, has had some incredible success but also faced some poor losses and endured some low periods. Yet he has come out returned and remodelled, like new each time his form had a dip.
Fortune has provided Harimoto with another year to prepare for the Olympics. In the past few years he has shown his capabilities pulling off occasional win’s against the likes of Ma and FZD but he did not seem truly ready to win a major event, such as the worlds or Olympics.
Achievements:
- Highest world ranking no.3
- World Tour Grand finals winner
- Best Wins – Fan Zhendong & Ma Long
Can Harimoto really win?
In truth I have not seen much of him in the past year due to Covid. But I am certain he will have been putting in over time in the gym and TT hall. I’ve seen a few videos and pictures and he looks bigger and stronger than ever. I do genuinely believe he is aiming to win a gold medal for his nation but history may have to wait! I think he is still a little too young and does not possess the experience to cope and manage under such a monumental occasion. What does work in his favour is that crowds will be minimised (most would say home crowd can uplift your game) and I do agree. But aged 18 and carrying a nations weight on your shoulders is a tall ask! Therefore on this occasion a smaller crowd favours Harimoto in my opinion and he can go about his business focusing on the task at hand.
I have put Harimoto at 3rd spot on my list of potential gold medalist because he is truly capable of beating anyone and winning the title. But does he have what it takes? For me his biggest weakness is his focus of energy. Shouting, screaming and sinking to the ground after each point won. He is expending a huge amount of energy which is misdirected. Energy is limited and if you don’t hone your energy your reducing your capability of maximum potential. This may be a confidence issue or lack of maturity but it does have an effect and it may mean settling for a possible bronze medal.
Fans!
Harimoto is either loved or disliked because of his vocal cords and for me I admire him. A boy that expresses his inner joy is something we rarely see these days. Often we are told to pipe down and Harimoto uses his pipes to sing his way to victory.
If he does pull off a miracle and win the gold medal, he will become a sporting god in Japan and we may very well see many more like Harimoto in the future…
Please share your thoughts and comments.