The field of national table tennis has recently received significant news. In an interview, Liu Guoliang revealed that the national table tennis team will initiate a large-scale adjustment and transformation, which is referred to as a "major blood renewal." Reflecting on the period after the Paris Olympics, two young players who have emerged, Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu, have been in a state of uncertainty regarding their head coach arrangements, resulting in instability. Now, with this blood renewal plan being made public, many fans are eagerly anticipating that they can quickly obtain exclusive coaches that align with their development.
National table tennis has always occupied a dominant position in the world of table tennis; however, even the most glorious teams need to keep pace with the times. The "major blood renewal" plan proposed by Liu Guoliang is precisely focused on long-term planning for the future.
For Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu, their recent performances have been widely recognized. Wang Chuqin's forehand attack is incredibly sharp, often able to seal the deal at critical moments; Wang Manyu's backhand strong attack makes opponents fearful and is highly lethal on the court. However, despite their limitless potential, these two players have experienced a lack of systematic and targeted training due to the uncertainty of their head coaches.
Liu Guoliang is well aware of this issue. He revealed in the interview that this change will comprehensively consider the compatibility between coaches and athletes. On one hand, the coaching team will conduct an in-depth analysis of Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu's technical characteristics. For example, since Wang Chuqin excels in forehand, the future coach should be adept at formulating tactics around the forehand, whether it's close-range fast attacks or mid-range rallies, all requiring meticulous planning to maximize his advantages. Similarly, the construction of Wang Manyu's backhand system is also crucial, and the coach must be able to design a series of tactics from serving and attacking to maintaining and changing lines based on different opponents.
Character compatibility is equally important. Young athletes' emotions can fluctuate easily, and if coaches can provide thoughtful guidance, offering encouragement during low points and reminders to stay calm during successes, it would significantly contribute to their growth. Currently, Wang Chuqin's coach remains undecided, sparking heated discussions among fans. Some favor Wang Hao, who shares a similar technical style with Wang Chuqin, believing he can unlock more of Wang Chuqin's potential. Others feel that Xiao Zhan has been very helpful to Wang Chuqin and express reluctance about the coaching change but understand the adjustments made by the national table tennis team, hoping that Wang Chuqin can quickly adapt to the new coach.
As for Wang Manyu's head coach, there were rumors that it might be Sun Xun, Chen Meng's former coach. Sun Xun began serving as Chen Meng's head coach in August 2023 and helped her achieve outstanding results. He also temporarily coached Wang Manyu during the Chengdu Mixed Team World Cup.
If Sun Xun takes over Wang Manyu, he is expected to leverage his extensive experience and coaching abilities to further enhance Wang Manyu's competitive level and achieve greater breakthroughs in future Olympic arenas. However, there are also concerns that Sun Xun's coaching style may conflict with Wang Manyu's personality, suggesting that the existing coaching team should be maintained to preserve their good state.
Of course, these are still just predictions. The national table tennis team is undoubtedly still cautiously weighing its options, striving to find the best mentor for these "wandering stars."