Do you still remember that not long after the end of the WTT Japan Fukuoka Finals at the end of 2024, Japanese men's table tennis "big brother" Zhang Ben Zhihe announced to the world media that he would only partner with his sister Zhang Ben Meihui in mixed doubles in the future, otherwise he would refuse to participate in any mixed doubles matches. At that time, the most embarrassing thing was the Japanese veteran who had partnered with him for many years, Early Tianxina, and the most embarrassing thing was the Japanese Table Tennis Association. This was because this was Zhang Ben Zhihe's speech after winning the men's singles runner-up at the WTT Fukuoka Finals in front of the Japanese people. This undoubtedly put the Japanese Table Tennis Association on the fire. However, it has been less than 3 months since then, and the Japanese Table Tennis Association, which has always remained silent, has quietly made a counterattack. They have completely locked the mixed doubles partner of his sister Zhang Ben Meihui on the 17-year-old Japanese rising star Song Dao Hui Kong. This is not only a statement by the Japanese Table Tennis Association against Zhang Ben Zhihe's blackmail, but also directly shattered Zhang Ben Zhihe's hope of impacting the Olympic mixed doubles.
After winning the men's singles runner-up at the WTT Fukuoka Finals in November 2024, Zhang Ben Zhihe actually talked about the mixed doubles event in front of the global media. He claimed that if he were to play mixed doubles in the future, he would only pair with his sister Zhang Ben Meihui, and would no longer pair with others. If he could not reach his idea through communication with the coaching staff, then Zhang Ben Zhihe said that he would never participate in any mixed doubles matches in the future, and frankly stated that he played mixed doubles in the direction of pairing with his sister! Zhang Ben Zhihe's remarks at that time really made the Japanese Table Tennis Association break out in a cold sweat. Many Japanese media outlets bluntly stated that Zhang Ben Zhihe was using his personal influence to blackmail the Japanese Table Tennis Association.
Why do you say that? First of all, Zhang Ben Zhihe is now the true "big brother" of Japanese men's table tennis. He is not only an unshakable player in Japanese men's singles and men's teams, but also the first male candidate for the Japanese mixed doubles project. Among several table tennis events in the Olympics, mixed doubles is the most likely event for Japan to win gold medals. For example, at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, Japan won the first mixed doubles gold medal in history, which made the Chinese national table tennis team regret for three years. Therefore, as the "big brother" of Japan, Zhang Ben Zhihe clearly stated that he wanted to personally select the female partner in the mixed doubles event, which was actually a way of openly blackmailing the Japanese Table Tennis Association using his own influence.
In addition, Zhang Ben Zhihe's remarks can be regarded as a complete face-to-face with Early Tianxina. If Zhang Ben Zhihe proposed the "change of partner" opinion privately to the Japanese Table Tennis Association, this would be the most reasonable and take care of the situation. However, he chose the way of "public shouting", so it can be imagined how embarrassed Early Tianxina was when she heard these words! Early Tianxina and Zhang Ben Zhihe have been partners in the mixed doubles event for many years and have won many gold medals. However, the first time the Japanese media reported that the two were not in harmony was at the Paris Olympics. The two actually suffered an embarrassing round-trip in the mixed doubles event at the Paris Olympics. After the game, one person threw their temper and the other sat motionless on the sidelines. This scene was wildly hyped by the Japanese media as "not in harmony". It seems that there is no wind or waves.
However, interestingly, at that time, the Japanese Table Tennis Association did not respond to Zhang Ben Zhihe's blackmail. As a result, at the just-concluded WTT Doha Star Game, a quiet change proved their success in changing. The Japanese Table Tennis Association arranged for Zhang Ben Meihui to partner with the 17-year-old rising star Song Dao Hui Kong to participate in the mixed doubles. As a result, at the WTT Doha Star Game, the two defeated the national table tennis combination of Huang Youzheng and Shi Xunyao and won the mixed doubles gold medal!
And what Song Dao Hui Kong looks forward to the most is not only the mixed doubles project with Zhang Ben Meihui, but also his personal singles ability. He is the consecutive five-time men's singles champion in three age groups across Japan, and he also broke the record of the youngest championship previously held by Zhang Ben Zhihe in the youth group, so he has long been known as the "Little Zhang Ben Zhihe". With the victory of Song Dao Hui Kong and Zhang Ben Meihui, this mixed doubles combination is basically the top seed combination for the mixed doubles of the Japanese Table Tennis Association targeting the Los Angeles Olympics. It seems that Zhang Ben Zhihe's hope for mixed doubles will be shattered.