After watching this match, my heart is still restless. This victory is not only a triumph but also a double breakthrough for Wang Chuqin in terms of strength and psychology. As a commentator who has been following table tennis for many years, I deeply understand the significance of this match for him.
At first, I was worried that Wang Chuqin would be affected by his loss at the Paris Olympics, but unexpectedly, he gave us a pleasant surprise at the Fukuoka Finals. He scored an impressive 10-0 in the first game, which is quite rare among world-class players. Seeing his vigor, I knew that our "Big Head" was in excellent form today.
I remember interviewing Wang Chuqin last year when he said that his biggest advantage was his good mentality. This is undoubtedly true; look at this match, where he played away from home, facing Zhang Ben Zhihe's home court advantage, yet he showed no signs of being intimidated. In just 40 minutes, he swept his opponent 4-0, allowing Zhang Ben Zhihe to score only 22 points, demonstrating a dominance that left everyone in awe.
Honestly, Wang Chuqin has indeed faced a lot of doubts recently. After losing to Moregad at the Olympics, followed by a series of defeats, many people were asking, "Is this world number one a bit undeserved?" However, I believe that true champions are those who continuously prove themselves amidst doubts. His world ranking score of 8825 points did not come easily.
The brilliance of this match lies not only in the score advantage. I noticed significant improvements in Wang Chuqin's technical details. His serve quality has improved, his multi-shot attacks are more fluid, and his control over crucial points has become more stable. These indicate that he has put in a lot of hard work on his fundamentals.
His psychological quality is also worth mentioning. We used to say that Chinese players have great technique but can be intimidated psychologically. However, Wang Chuqin completely changed this impression. Look at his composure when leading 10-0; that's confidence earned through competition. After winning the match, he threw his headband to the audience, which had a bit of a "showy" element, but doesn't it show that he's becoming more individualistic?
To put it this way, I feel that Wang Chuqin is increasingly playing with the demeanor of a general. At a young age, he's able to carry the flag of the national table tennis team, and this is no accident. After the match, he said, "Zhang Ben and I have been opponents since we were young, with wins and losses between us." How honest that is, without any airs.
Speaking of the men's national table tennis team, I truly believe that we are at a critical period of generational transition. Veterans like Ma Long and Fan Zhendong are making way for newcomers, and new talents like Lin Shidong and Liang Jingkun are emerging.
At this moment, Wang Chuqin stepping up to take on the core role of the team is no small matter.
Have you noticed that Wang Chuqin's playing style is increasingly developing its own characteristics? Unlike before, he's bold, dares to fight, and remains particularly calm in key moments. This is what the new generation of national table tennis players should be like: comprehensive in technique, mature in psychology, and with a touch of individuality.
Looking at Wang Chuqin's smile on the podium, I can't help but think that this young man's future will surely be even more brilliant. He has proven himself to be the undisputed world number one with his strength, and now it's about how far he can go from this position.
As an old fan, I sincerely hope that Wang Chuqin can maintain this state. Our Chinese table tennis needs such a new generation of leaders, who are both capable and responsible. I believe that as long as he continues with this fighting spirit and enterprising attitude, his future achievements will be even greater.