2012 London Olympics Table Tennis: Name Your Bets

That's why I posted it in the first place :p

As far as I'm concerned, the whole grand slam in table tennis doesn't really mean that much due to the format of tournaments.

If Zhang Jike wins the Olympics this year, he will have won the world championship, the world cup and the Olympics without ever having to play against Ma Long (the best player in the world) during any of those events.  Ma Long may not have been #1 at the time of the world championship, but he was during the world cup and did not even get an invite.

Heck, if the Olympics were held using the current ITTF ranking list, there would only be 6 of the top 10 players in the world competing - the Qatar open in a few days will have 9/10 which makes it a MUCH more difficult tournament to win.

The focus on Ma Long in particular doesn't mean anything, the point is simply that a single elimination tournament with a restriction on top players is sort of absurd.  I think it would be immensely better for the sport to eliminate doubles and make tournaments double elimination.  Mind you, I'm only suggesting this for the pro-circuit and not for all levels of the sport.

As for the Olympics, the argument which is arising against the allowance of multiple top Chinese is that the spirit of the event is countries competing with one another.  I agree that this is what the Olympics is generally for, but then shouldn't only one player be allowed for each country?  Or perhaps the Olympics shouldn't have singles and there should only be a team event - doesn't that sound more like countries competing against one another?

 

I wrote that in that post a while ago:

 

It's more like a friendly bet than a serious position however I can't help thinking that Wang Hao having lost twice (once vs. a non Chinese) does not make him deserve a third chance, especially in China where I imagine, right or wrong, failure is less than often forgiven.

 
What is the logic when saying ML has  a mental problem for losing 2nd zone players after a long streak a victories while WH does not have any when failing at the highest level 3 times (OG, OG, WC) where ML has never been given a chance (or just lost a cnt friend)???

 

Liu Guoliang has thrown a bad spell on his team. 

 

In London I predict Timo Boll (I'll end up winning with enough attempts like in 2008, 2009, 2011...) will beat Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in the final, if they do not meet before the ultimate stage; gold for the winner of their match if they fight before the final.

 

 

lol... +2