On December 25th, Beijing time, Deng Yaping gave Sun Yingsha advice on her pursuit of the Grand Slam, with the first sentence being particularly impactful. It seems as though she was not only speaking to Yingsha but also to Liu Guoliang and Ma Lin.
In this new cycle for Sun Yingsha, the team's tasks and national responsibilities have been fulfilled; she has secured the mixed doubles championship and retained the women's team Olympic gold medal. Should she now pursue her own dream and aim for the Grand Slam? What does she need to achieve this?
Deng Yaping, a legendary figure in Chinese table tennis and a member of the historical Grand Slam winners, provided some suggestions to Yingsha on how to attain the Grand Slam. Beyond technical advice, her first suggestion to Sun Yingsha was: "I hope that in the new year, Sun Yingsha will ensure her health and take good care of her body." For athletes, maintaining high-level performance requires one crucial condition: good health, which is a key point.
Deng Yaping's first statement is not just directed at Sun Yingsha; it is largely intended for Liu Guoliang and Ma Lin. To realize what Deng Yaping has said, what is needed is to allow Sun Yingsha to focus on her events, manage her energy wisely, and provide her with logistical support while making sensible choices about competitions.
Not all competitions must be attended by her; should she participate in every event just to sell tickets, disregarding the athlete's health? With 27 major competitions in 2025, can she attend them all? Is it feasible? Isn't it about managing her participation sensibly? Given Sun Yingsha's abilities, she is destined for doubles play, but could consideration be given to focusing on women's doubles rather than mixed doubles? By managing her participation sensibly and allowing her to allocate her energy appropriately, with selective participation and proper logistical support, her health would not be an issue.
The coaching staff needs to address these points, as they are not just Sun Yingsha's problems but significant issues for Ma Lin and the women's team to confront.