In the training hall of the national table tennis women's team, four figures are sweating profusely. They are the four most dazzling golden flowers in today's world table tennis arena - Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Chen Xingtong, and Wang Yidi. However, this seemingly ordinary training day hides a fierce competition.
On the world ranking list, Sun Yingsha still firmly occupies the top spot, but Wang Manyu behind her is eyeing her position. The points gap between the two has narrowed to 1,200 points, like a rivalry between two martial arts masters, ready to spark new sparks at any time.
Speaking of Wang Manyu's recent performance, it can be described as "full firepower." She has won one championship after another, including the Frankfurt Station title and the year-end finals gold medal. This girl from the north is like a plum blossom blooming in the cold winter, the colder it gets, the more fragrant it becomes.
"Little Sha" Sun Yingsha, although previously plagued by injuries, has recently shown a clear recovery in form. Like a warrior who has reorganized his troops, she has demonstrated strong dominance in the Super League. Her unique playing style still makes opponents wary.
On the sidelines of this "twin star" battle, the stories of the other two protagonists are equally intriguing. Chen Xingtong, known as the "stabilizer," recently staged an "undefeated record" in the Super League. No matter how strong the opponent is, she always responds with the most stable state, like a tall and straight pine tree that remains unmoved in any storm.
However, Wang Yidi's situation is somewhat embarrassing. She has consecutively lost to Japanese player Miharu Mu in international competitions, which is undoubtedly a wake-up call for her, who is known for her stability. It's like a talented dancer suddenly losing her rhythm on stage, needing to calm down and find her footing again.
National team head coach Ma Lin faces these four golden flowers like a gardener who carefully tends to his garden. Each flower has its own unique blooming season, and the key is to find the most suitable cultivation method. With the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics, there are only three spots available, making the selection process even more unpredictable.
In a corner of the training hall, you can often see Ma Lin seriously communicating with the players. Sometimes it's technical guidance, sometimes psychological counseling. In his view, to achieve further glory at the Olympics, technique is just the foundation, and improving psychological quality is the key to victory.
During a recent team training match, an interesting incident occurred. The confrontation between Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha attracted everyone's attention. The two exchanged blows so fast that it was hard to follow. Just when everyone thought Wang Manyu was about to score the decisive point, Sun Yingsha suddenly made a brilliant move, accurately brushing the ball past the edge. This scene seemed to foreshadow that the competition between the two would become even more exciting.
Chen Xingtong trains silently on another table, focused and dedicated. Her progress may not be as dramatic as Wang Manyu's, but it's like a trickle that gradually accumulates strength imperceptibly.
Wang Yidi has recently increased her training intensity, especially practicing to deal with the ball routes of left-handed players. Failure has made her more sober and determined. As the coaching staff often say, "Temporary failure is not terrible, what's terrible is losing the courage to continue moving forward."
As the date of the Los Angeles Olympics approaches, the competition among the four golden flowers will become even more intense. However, in the national table tennis family, competition is never a zero-sum game. They are both opponents and comrades-in-arms, with a common goal of letting the five-starred red flag fly high in the Olympic arena.
Looking at these young faces, it can't help but remind people of Deng Yaping, Wang Nan, and Zhang Yining from back then. They proved the strength of Chinese women's table tennis with their abilities, and today's four golden flowers are writing a legend belonging to the new era.
Who will be able to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics in the future? Is it the world number one Sun Yingsha? Or the momentum-driven Wang Manyu? The steady as a pine Chen Xingtong? Or the poised to strike Wang Yidi? The answer may not be clear now, but what is certain is that they are all working hard and making progress in their own ways.
In this battle without gunpowder smoke, the most wonderful thing is not who is finally selected, but everyone has grown in the competition. As Coach Ma Lin said, "True victory does not lie in defeating your opponent, but in surpassing yourself."
Let us look forward to these four golden flowers blooming with even more dazzling light in the future, continuing to write the glorious chapter of Chinese women's table tennis in the world of table tennis. After all, in this challenging new era, they are not only each other's opponents but also comrades-in-arms who jointly defend the glory of the national table tennis team.
This competition is still ongoing, and we have every reason to believe that no matter which three players eventually represent China in the Los Angeles Olympics, they will be in the best state to create new glories for Chinese table tennis!