The recent 2024 Asian Table Tennis Championships wrapped up with China’s national team, featuring a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging players, securing only two gold medals. This outcome starkly contrasts with their usually impressive performance in international competitions. Despite not fielding their full roster and the taxing schedule taking a toll on the athletes’ stamina, the new Olympic cycle presents even greater challenges for the national team.
On October 13, during the men’s singles final held in Astana, Kazakhstan, China’s Lin Shidong fell short against Japan’s Zhang Benzi, finishing as the runner-up. The Japanese team emerged as the biggest winners of the event, clinching gold medals in women’s team, women’s doubles, and men’s singles, highlighting their prowess.
The 16-year-old Tomokazu Harimoto continues to demonstrate formidable competitive form as he heads into the Paris Olympics. In the women’s team finals, he secured two crucial points for Japan by defeating top Chinese players Wang Yidi and Sun Yingsha. Although he finished second in the women’s singles final, his growing experience could pose a significant threat to the Chinese women’s team in the future.
North Korea’s Kim Jin-young triumphed in the women’s singles final with her unique style of play, characterized by strong and variable tactics. Throughout the competition, she toppled prominent players such as Wang Yidi and Du Kaiqin, and in the women’s team event, she even defeated Sun Yingsha. Having faced off against Sun and Wang in the mixed doubles final at the past Olympics, Kim’s outstanding performance at this championship marks her as a rising star in Asian and global table tennis.
Kim’s development is reshaping the landscape of Asian table tennis, presenting a new potential opponent for the national team as they gear up for the Los Angeles Olympics. Additionally, the Indian women’s team has been quickly rising, evidenced by their shocking upset against a formidable South Korean team in the quarterfinals. Players like the unorthodox Mukherjee sisters and the tall Batra have previously defeated key Chinese players, posing a growing challenge to the dominance of the Chinese women’s team.
In contrast to the women’s team, the men’s team faces a tougher situation. China entered the men’s singles event with five players: Wang Chuqin, Liang Jingkun, Lin Shidong, Xu Yingbin, and Xiang Peng, but only Lin Shidong reached the top four, ultimately settling for second place.
Japan’s men’s team, led by Harimoto, and South Korea’s strong lineup featuring players like Jang Woo-jin and An Jaehyun, are significant competitors to watch. Moreover, 18-year-old South Korean prodigy Woojin and 14-year-old Iranian talent Benyamin showcased remarkable performances, reflecting the intense competition from across Asia. On a global scale, Swedish player Anton Källberg and the Lebrun brothers from France also emerge as key competitors for the Chinese team in this new Olympic cycle.
While other teams are witnessing the rise of new talents, the Chinese national team’s player succession is not progressing as smoothly. Apart from Lin Shidong’s commendable performance, other younger players like Xiang Peng, Xu Yingbin, and Shi Xunyao did not shine at the championships.
Adding to the challenges, the primary players are also experiencing difficulties: Sun Yingsha had to withdraw early due to health issues, and both Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong, stepping in for the absent Wang Manyu, failed to make the women’s singles semifinals. For the men, Liang Jingkun struggled, and Wang Chuqin fell short in the singles semifinals.
With only two championships—men’s team and mixed doubles—secured from a total of seven events, the outcomes of the Asian Championships reveal several pressing issues needing attention within the national team. However, it is worth noting the improvement of the mixed doubles team of Lin Shidong and Kuai Man, both of whom have been performing well, suggesting they could help maintain China’s edge in mixed doubles events.
In the world of competitive sports, no team remains at the peak indefinitely; highs and lows are inherent to every team’s journey. The lackluster results from the Asian Championships expose a series of challenges facing the national team while also providing an opportunity for reflection and improvement moving forward.
