Liu Guoliang Speaks Out Amid Rumors of His Resignation: CCTV Interview Reveals Details, Discusses Future Four-Year Plan for National Table Tennis Team
Mentioning the name Liu Guoliang, table tennis enthusiasts are undoubtedly familiar with it. As the soul figure of the Chinese table tennis team, his contributions are nothing short of monumental. From being a player to a coach and then the chairman of the China Table Tennis Association, he is like a living fossil in table tennis, wielding immense influence.
Especially since taking on the role of head coach, Liu has not only maintained the world-class level of the national team but also cultivated countless outstanding players. It can be said that the brilliant achievements of the national table tennis team are inseparable from his hard work and precise deployment.
However, recently, rumors about Liu's resignation have been rife, with some even openly accusing him of failing to manage the administrative aspects of the national table tennis team, making him the focus of many discussions. Especially He Xiaolong, an old-timer in the table tennis circle, openly challenged Liu, claiming that he did not handle the issue of fan culture well.
Fan culture, doesn't this sound like the fan culture in the entertainment industry? But in He Xiaolong's view, this culture has already infiltrated into the national table tennis team, even affecting the training and competitive state of the athletes.
These seemingly enthusiastic fans actually brought a considerable burden to the athletes, to the extent that Chen Meng even considered retirement due to attacks from fans.
So, what was Liu Guoliang's response? On December 24th, at the National Sports Director's Conference, Liu attended and made it clear that he would continue to serve as the chairman of the China Table Tennis Association, dispelling all rumors of his resignation.
This can be considered a resounding slap in the face to those who were just watching the drama. Following this, in an interview with CCTV, Liu also announced his detailed plan for the next four years, stating that he will focus on building a new generation of table tennis talent in the coming cycle, especially in the first year of the new cycle, focusing on cultivating newcomers so that these young players can take over as soon as possible.
I know that many people, looking at Liu's response, may have this question in their hearts: Is Liu really capable, or has he become labeled as an old sage, relying on experience for everything?
In fact, whether He Xiaolong's criticism is justified or not depends on the performance of the national table tennis team in the next few years. Criticism is one thing, but how to implement it in management and training is the key.
Is He Xiaolong's criticism worth mentioning? First, let's talk about He Xiaolong's point of view. He mentioned the issue of fan culture, and as a veteran in table tennis, he clearly has a say.
In his opinion, Liu did not take effective measures to control the interference of this culture on the athletes' state, but rather tacitly allowed its spread. He gave several examples, such as Wang Chuqin, Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, and other main players of the national table tennis team, who often encounter swarms of fans when going out for competitions, greatly affecting their training and competitive states.
The fanaticism of these fans even caused Chen Meng, an Olympic gold medalist, to suffer a significant impact on her mentality when facing attacks from Sun Yingsha's fans, almost leading to retirement.
Some netizens pointed out that He Xiaolong's criticism is not groundless: Look at these fans, they treat their idols as their own private property, not giving them any personal space.
As an athlete, you have to constantly face the enthusiasm of the fans, but can this enthusiasm really help you improve? Sometimes it turns into a burden instead.
Can we say that Liu didn't manage it well? Some netizens also put forward different opinions: Looking at it from another angle, Liu's responsibility should be placed on a larger scale.
Who made the national table tennis team accumulate so much glory over the years, leading to the current phenomenon? The high level of public attention is the root of the problem.
Rather than saying that Liu didn't manage it well, it's more accurate to say that we demand too much from the athletes! Indeed, table tennis, as China's national sport, its popularity and attention is a double-edged sword.
Every main player of the national table tennis team, even if they just show up slightly, might be chased by fans all over the streets.
But, thinking about it from another angle, if Liu were to take a one-size-fits-all approach to controlling these fan cultures, wouldn't it lead to even greater controversy? Athletes also have their own personalities and living spaces, can Liu completely control them?
Obviously not.
Liu Guoliang's Response: A Four-Year Plan to Break Doubts
In the days to come, Liu's response effectively dispelled rumors about his resignation. On December 24th, at the National Sports Director's Conference, Liu made it clear that he would continue to lead the national table tennis team and had already made detailed plans for the next four years.
He proposed that the future focus will be on the cultivation of young players, especially addressing the succession issues after some veterans retire.
Speaking of retirement, our team has top figures like Ma Long and Fan Zhendong, whose conditions are good enough to play for another five years. However, inevitably, we must consider successors.
Liu revealed in the interview that in the next four years, he will focus on providing more training opportunities for the new generation of players, especially in the first year, mainly providing more competition opportunities for young players to ensure they have sufficient training time so that they can steadily take over the baton in the days to come.
A netizen expressed their opinion on Liu's plan: Liu Guoliang has done a great job here, not only focusing on immediate victories but also having a visionary layout.
The long-term dominance of the national table tennis team relies on such long-term planning. Moreover, cultivating newcomers cannot just look at results; more importantly, it's about their mentality and adaptability.
There are criticisms and doubts about Liu Guoliang, some saying he did not manage the fan culture of the national table tennis team well, others saying he is leading with old experience.
The facts prove that Liu Guoliang's professionalism and planning for the future of the national table tennis team have already stood at the forefront of the times. He not only considers immediate competitive achievements but also focuses on the long-term development of the team.
From this point of view, his four-year plan is not just empty talk but has solid actions and ideas.
Conclusion: Can Liu Guoliang Go Further?
Liu's response is not only a counterattack against external doubts but also a layout for the future. Judging from his plan, the future of the national table tennis team is still in his hands.
Regarding rumors of his resignation, he not only gave a clear answer with practical actions but also through the four-year plan presented in the CCTV interview, allowing everyone to see his determination and ability to lead the national table tennis team to new heights.
Can Liu Guoliang continue to lead the national table tennis team to even greater heights? I think the answer to this question is obvious. He not only has the capability but is also steadily moving in that direction.
While He Xiaolong's criticism has sparked some discussion, whether it can really change anything probably still depends on the performance of the national table tennis team on the international stage in the next few years.