The 2024 International Table Tennis Federation Chengdu Mixed Team World Cup has just concluded, with several tense and exciting matches that left the audience's hearts racing. In particular, the match between Zhang Benmei and Yuan Xuejiao saw Zhang Benmei, despite experiencing ups and downs in her form, ultimately win a close 3-2 victory over her opponent; while world champion Hirano Miu showcased her dominance by sweeping her opponent 3-0 in her match against Minami Yuri, completely crushing them in what can only be described as a dreamlike performance.
Today, let's talk about the thrilling moments of these matches, the players' performances, and the stories behind them.
Zhang Benmei vs Yuan Xuejiao: A Suspenseful Clash
Zhang Benmei's match was undoubtedly one of the highlights of this event. As a representative figure in the Japanese table tennis world, every one of her matches attracts countless eyes. This time, although the Japanese team did not send their strongest lineup, Zhang Benmei still stood out at the critical moment, engaging in fierce competition with Yuan Xuejiao.
The match started with Zhang Benmei as if she had activated an extreme speed mode. In the first game, she quickly entered the state and won 11-8, showing strong aggressiveness. Although Yuan Xuejiao did not immediately surrender, Zhang Benmei's keen response and decisive attack made people almost feel that she had no pause at all.
The match quickly entered a volatile period, and Yuan Xuejiao found her rhythm in the second game, successfully countering with an 11-6 score to tie one game back. In the third game, Yuan Xuejiao completely entered the state, as if opening a new hack mode, directly overtaking the big score to 2-1 with an 11-4 score. At this time, Zhang Benmei seemed a bit lost, appearing anxious on the court, with increased errors, especially when facing Yuan Xuejiao's extremely fast counterattacks, seeming somewhat overwhelmed.
As an experienced player, Zhang Benmei did not give up easily. In the fourth game, she adjusted her mentality and regained her precise shots from before. Although the two sides' scores were tight, Zhang Benmei eventually locked in the victory with an 11-9 score, tying the total score to 2-2. At that moment, the emotions of the spectators on the field also fluctuated, and the atmosphere was so tense that it almost made people unable to breathe.
The decisive game arrived, and the match entered a white-hot stage. Both sides had already given their all, with the scores constantly rising and alternating, making every detail potentially decisive for victory. When the score reached 12-12, Zhang Benmei suddenly exploded, scoring two points in this critical moment and finally winning 14-12 over her opponent. This match could be described as a roller coaster, with the ups and downs of the state making the hearts of every table tennis fan rise and fall.
Hirano Miu vs Minami Yuri: A Completely Dominant Victory
Looking at Hirano Miu's match, she faced Minami Yuri like an invincible table tennis machine. In this match, her performance was like pouring cold water on the opponent, leaving Minami Yuri with no chance to counterattack. The match had no suspense from start to finish.
In the first game, Hirano Miu showed strong dominance, scoring six consecutive points at 5-5 to win easily with an 11-7 score. In the second game, Minami Yuri tried to launch a counterattack and keep the score close, but Hirano Miu was still like an emotionless fighting machine, scoring five more points after a 6-6 tie to win again with an 11-6 score.
In the third game, Minami Yuri tried to go all out, with great effort, even giving Hirano Miu some trouble at one point. The gap in experience and technology was fully revealed in this game. Despite Minami Yuri's best efforts, Hirano Miu always remained calm, winning again with a 12-10 score and completing the shutout smoothly with a 3-0 victory. This match had almost no possibility of reversal, and Hirano Miu's strength made the opponent feel like they had encountered an insurmountable wall.
Kanagawa Club vs Nagoya Club: Kanagawa's Dominance
In addition to these two individual duels, the team match between Kanagawa Club and Nagoya Club was also a highly anticipated focus battle. Ultimately, Kanagawa Club relied on their overall strength to defeat Nagoya Club 4-0, demonstrating strong teamwork and individual ability.
Kanagawa Club is undoubtedly a big favorite in this event, with each of their players performing very steadily, especially Zhang Benmei and Hirano Miu, who almost became the stabilizing force in the match, securing the team's victory.
Other Matches: Zhu Qianxi and Women's Doubles Impressive Performances
In the women's doubles match, Zhu Qianxi and her partner's combination also brought a refreshing performance. Although the match was relatively calm, they defeated their opponents with stable cooperation and accurate tactics, providing the audience with a visual feast.
In addition, Zhu Qianxi also performed well in the singles match, winning her singles match with excellent skills and stable play. Each of her matches was a perfect combination of technique and patience, and her performance on the court could almost be described as flawless.
Audience Buzz: Different Opinions on Zhang Benmei and Hirano Miu
After the match, many viewers expressed their opinions on social media. One netizen said: Zhang Benmei's match was really full of ups and downs. Although there were some mistakes at one point, she always managed to adjust at the critical moment, truly showing the demeanor of a veteran. Her match was like a wonderful movie, making me almost out of breath!
Yuan Xuejiao also fought hard, but in the decisive game's critical moment, it seemed like she was still lacking something. Another netizen focused more on Hirano Miu's performance: Hirano Miu is simply a monster! Playing so easily, it doesn't even seem like a match, it's a masterpiece of a shutout. Her stability is too strong, not letting the opponent have any chance at all.
I think she is one of the strongest players today, and her condition is really beyond words. Another netizen mentioned: Although Zhang Benmei won, her state is still not stable enough. Sometimes she can play exceptionally well, but other times she falters, and this volatility may bring trouble to her career. I hope she can be more stable in future matches.
Another netizen expressed: Kanagawa Club is really too strong! Especially Hirano Miu's performance makes people feel that other teams have little chance. Although Zhang Benmei won, whether she and her teammates can maintain such performance still depends on whether they can remain calm at critical moments.
Summary: The Victory of Stability and Teamwork
Looking back at this event, the performances of Hirano Miu and Zhang Benmei undoubtedly brought a pleasant surprise to all table tennis fans. Hirano Miu relied on her strong stability and impeccable skills to win 3-0 against her opponent; Zhang Benmei, despite experiencing ups and downs, still managed to narrowly win 3-2 against her opponent.
Regardless, the charm of table tennis lies in its unpredictability and high drama, which is why it can attract so many fans. From the Kanagawa Club to the Nagoya Club, from singles to team events, all the players demonstrated a very high level in this competition. Whether young players or experienced veterans, everyone's fighting spirit and tenacity are worth cheering for them.