On the morning of November 2, the semi-finals of the singles event in the regular challenge tournament being held in Oman concluded. The national table tennis players performed brilliantly, with both the men's and women's teams advancing to the finals. During the competition, Lin Shidong and Kuai Man defeated Japanese opponents, while Lin Gaoyuan had to withdraw due to injury, leaving a regret.
Kuai Man's Power! A 3-0 Victory Over Oosawa
In recent times, Oosawa has been the most outstanding Japanese player, defeating top names like Miyu Higa, Mima Ito, and Hina Hayata. Even non-first-tier Chinese players like Zhuo Jia He and Yi Yun Yang have fallen to her. After defeating Zhuo Jia He in Oman, one couldn't help but worry if Kuai Man could overcome Oosawa.
To say that Kuai Man could defeat Oosawa, objectively speaking, before the match, I did not have the confidence to say so. However, the course of the game was surprising. Kuai Man played as if possessed, restricting Oosawa's performance and rendering her moves ineffective. As a result, Kuai Man won three consecutive sets, securing a decisive victory and advancing to the final.
A 3-2 Win Over Japanese Opponent, Lin Shidong Competes for the Title with Wen Ruibo
Similar to the women's singles semi-final, the men's singles semi-final also featured an internal battle within the national team, as well as a match against a Japanese opponent. Lin Shidong faced off against Yutaka Ueda, who had defeated Xiang Peng. After a fierce five-set battle, Lin Shidong emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, advancing to the final.
Lin Shidong's opponent in the final will not be Lin Gaoyuan, as General Xiaolin suffered an unfortunate strain and had to withdraw from the semi-final, allowing Wen Ruibo to advance uncontested to compete for the championship with Lin Shidong. For Lin Gaoyuan, suffering an injury during training is indeed a significant regret. The latest news is that Lin Gaoyuan has also withdrawn from the upcoming Frankfurt Championship.
From the Asian Championships to before the Oman tournament, the national table tennis team's record was not something to behold, prompting even head coach Li Sun to speak out, explaining the difficulties the team faced but expressing confidence in performing well in upcoming matches. Judging from the Oman tournament, it seems like the "invincible" national table tennis team is back.
It is hoped that starting from the Oman tournament, the national table tennis team's results will get back on track, continuously creating one good achievement after another!