In the current view, the strength of the three players is as follows: Sun Yingsha > Zhang Benmei ≈ Kim Kyeong-yong.
After the mid-cycle of the Los Angeles period, the change in strength is: Zhang Benmei > Sun Yingsha ≈ Kim Kyeong-yong.
At the 2024 Asian Championships, Kim Kyeong-yong won the championship, Zhang Benmei finished second, and Sun Yingsha withdrew from the competition. According to recent results, it should be assumed that Kim Kyeong-yong is the strongest. However, I believe that results are a comprehensive reflection of strength, state, on-site testing, and adaptive responses during matches.
During the Asian Championships, both Sun Yingsha and Zhang Benmei were obviously affected in terms of physical condition and energy, especially Sun Yingsha, who continuously participated in commercial activities after the Paris Olympics and reached the finals in multiple commercial events afterward, which means she played the most number of games. Zhang Benmei followed closely behind, while Kim Kyeong-yong did not participate in any international competitions.
Looking at their encounters, Zhang Benmei met Kim Kyeong-yong for the first time, while Sun Yingsha had previously competed in mixed doubles and then met again in the team event at the Asian Championships. Therefore, among these three players, Sun Yingsha and Zhang Benmei have been more exposed in international competitions, and their playing styles are familiar to almost all opponents. From this perspective, Kim Kyeong-yong has an advantage.
Based on the above objective situation, I believe that the current strength of the three players should be: Sun Yingsha, Zhang Benmei, Kim Kyeong-yong.
After the Asian Championships, Kim Kyeong-yong will undoubtedly be quickly taken seriously by other players. Based on personal judgment, it is expected that in future events, under the assumption that the participating lineup of all associations is equivalent to the Asian Championships, Kim Kyeong-yong is unlikely to advance to the singles final again.
Regarding future development, I think that within the next year, Sun Yingsha will still have an overwhelming advantage. However, looking further ahead, some changes will occur.
Technology:
Zhang Benmei - Due to her family background, Zhang Benmei's table tennis development did not have the shortcomings of traditional Japanese training.
Her backhand technique also differs somewhat from traditional techniques, with fast reactions, precise control, and a unique way of exerting force. I've watched fewer of her matches, but based on what I've seen so far, her tactics are relatively rich. She makes adjustments according to different opponents.
Kim Kyeong-yong - A rather special long rubber playing style, left-handed horizontal board. Technically, it can be described as "retro." Deng Yaping mentioned in her commentary that his playing style is similar to hers. Indeed, it is. His backhand quick tear with a large angle and excellent placement adjustment are quite outstanding. In a previous interview, Deng Yaping said that to make up for her physical shortcomings (being short), her training focused on "two fasts and one strange," meaning fast steps, fast ball speed, and unpredictable shots. Kim Kyeong-yong basically meets these criteria. However, considering his physical conditions, this style of play may be quite damaging to his body, and his career may not last particularly long. It should be no more than the Los Angeles cycle. But he is indeed a formidable opponent. North Korea's clear intention in this Asian Championships is to return to the international stage. They will likely launch a fierce attack during the Los Angeles cycle.
Sun Yingsha - There are no major issues with her technique, but there are no particularly eye-catching moves either. Her main problem lies in her physical fitness; she has a small frame, less muscle mass, and relatively insufficient strength, requiring more effort in terms of stamina compared to others. If she could train like Deng Yaping used to, with sandbags tied to her legs to improve her steps and increase ball speed, it would help her technical growth. Alternatively, if her ability to calculate shots could approach that of Ma Long from the men's team, it could also compensate for some deficiencies. However, given the current situation where fans scream at every minor injury or illness, it's difficult for her to achieve sustained development. Conversely, if she trains like Deng Yaping did, her career may indeed be shortened due to the high level of consumption. It's up to her to decide whether to stop here or be willing to give it another try.
Another issue is that her placement is too uniform each time. Opponents can easily predict where the next shot will go, making it easy to defend against. Her technique needs more variation, which was evident in the women's singles final in Paris. She could learn more about placement from Liu Shiwen.
Her playing style feels somewhat similar to Li Xiaoxia, but her physical fitness is not as good as Li Xiaoxia's, and she lacks Li Xiaoxia's finishing moves. The same moves, if executed by Li Xiaoxia in the Paris Olympics against Chen Meng, would result in a decisive victory for Li.
North Korea is clearly aiming to return to the international stage this time, and they will definitely fight hard during this cycle.
The Asian Championships serve as the qualifying event for next year's World Championships, and North Korea has secured qualifications in all seven events. Next year's World Championships will be truly dangerous. I hope they have some sense of crisis and arrange a coach and physical trainer for Wang Manyu. A few days ago, I saw a post from Wang Manyu's fans saying that her coach's contract expired without renewal, and he has returned to the provincial team. In 2021, they dismantled the mixed doubles pair on the spot to pair with an American rookie, and after winning the Houston championship, they directly reassigned the coach in the 2022 coaching selection. I don't particularly like Wang Manyu's personality, but I do feel sorry for her.
I actually don't fully understand why they are so afraid of seamless balls in the Asian Championships. It seems like they can't handle spin anymore. Seamless balls currently have spin closest to that of the small ball era. The few matches played with seamless balls have much better viewing experience than traditional seam balls. How beautifully they spin! Table tennis is all about spin. National team athletes being afraid of this is something I really don't understand.
Chen Meng benefited from the 2017 material change that weakened spin, which helped her playing style, making her one of the rare athletes whose skills weren't significantly weakened after the ball change. I really miss the small ball era; celluloid balls were great, and the matches were so exciting to watch with the ball flying around. What's going on now... and they keep blocking, trying to make people eat their serves directly.
Anyway, I just feel that Sun Yingsha gained a lot of weight during the closed period this year. If she can reduce her physique back to what it was in 2023 and make technical improvements, she can hold on for four years until Xiao Zhu's younger sister grows up to deal with Zhang Benmei. And the little gold sister you mentioned, won't she get older? She is one year younger than Sun Yingsha, with short arms and a short body, and she is also working hard to protect the table. Will she not age in four years? Will her stamina decline?
If the match can be resolved within four sets, there won't be a problem. Similar to Ma Long's current situation, he can still win as long as he resolves the match within four sets. Moreover, judging from the Asian Championships, Xiao Jin's stamina is much better than Sun Yingsha's. After finishing at court No. 1, she went back to change clothes and played at court No. 2, winning both matches. Even if their stamina declines simultaneously three and a half years later, Xiao Jin would still be better off than Sun Yingsha.
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