Team China's Race to Paris 2024 Singles

Hi Guys, China Table Tennis Association (CTTA) has just announced their selection criteria for the Paris 2024 Olympic Team. Unlike in Tokyo 2020, when the selection criteria was quite vague and it seemed it was CTTA's discretion who it selected for singles, this time, the selection criteria is quite clear. There is now an added interest in following events and WR points, since this has a direct impact on who plays singles for CNT. Let this thread serve as the source of updates and discussion of this very tight race. Kindly see this Article for the full details: https://english.news.cn/20230515/fc43a7b55fef4855b3eb3080f96a601c/c.html

Edited by apacible - 05/17/2023 at 7:12am

https://www.douban.com/group/topic/288542066
Douban users aren't falling for it.

As with the "Performance Appraisal for 2019", 雷聲大，雨點小.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/road-to-tokyo-2020-chinese-tt-team.22527/post-345567

CNT: We zone in/narrow down on the candidates AND THEN we come up with the selection criteriA 😉 that fit them to a T.

zeio wrote: Thanks for the creating a thread for this. Was planning to post this in the WTTC 2023 trial thread but got caught up in other matters. https://www.ctta.cn/xhgg/ssxg/2023/0515/568059.html Last page of the attachment: https://xhimg.sports.cn/Image/soft/230515/49-230515203A2455.pdf

apacible wrote: Hi Guys, China Table Tennis Association (CTTA) has just announced their selection criteria for the Paris 2024 Olympic Team. Unlike in Tokyo 2020, when the selection criteria was quite vague and it seemed it was CTTA's discretion who it selected for singles, this time, the selection criteria is quite clear. There is now an added interest in following events and WR points, since this has a direct impact on who plays singles for CNT. Let this thread serve as the source of updates and discussion of this very tight race. Kindly see this Article for the full details: https://english.news.cn/20230515/fc43a7b55fef4855b3eb3080f96a601c/c.html In summary: Singles- Top 2 Chinese players in Olympic Points (not to be confused with WR points) by May 7, 2024. Olympic points consists of the total of (1) his/her WR points as of the May 7, 2024 WR list and (2) any bonus points earned by the CNT players in designated competitions from May 8, 2023 to May 7, 2024 according to the Points Table made by CTTA. See this post for a detailed table on the 1000 free spins bonus points. Mixed Doubles- Top-ranked Chinese Mixed Doubles Pair when the May 7, 2024 WR list is released. Team- If the aforementioned two pathways cannot select three players per gender for the team events, the last spot in the roster will be determined by the CTTA coaching group. P-card/alternate/reserve- CTTA coaching group's discretion.

I was watching the MD final in the SC Bangkok, and I noticed that Lin Gaoyuan right thigh/knee region was heavily strapped which is the first time I've ever seen a red band on him, concurrently the interactive pop-up on the screen showed that he'd been on the court for about 6hr 17 min at the onset of that match. Now it's got me thinking about the extent of the stamina demands on young athletes  and how it affects their performances when energy levels are dwindling and the margin of error is low. WCQ for example was uncharacteristically shabby and reactive in the rallies in the last 2 sets against FZD and you can argue about the psychological factor of losing the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sets by very close margins, but at the start of the final he had been on a court for a whooping 8h 17 minutes compared to 3h 15 for Fan, and with the way both of his lower appendages were strapped that must have taken a toll.

Li Sun has said in a recent interview that the lineup for Asian Games will be announced in early July.

With WMY's form at WTTC 2023 (in addition to losing to DHK and YJN), WYD's defeats to grandma Ni, Hirano and Hayata, CXT's shaky win against CIC, utter losses against Szocs and HY, SYS (1365 days of undefeated record against foreign players ended by Hirano) and CM (besides Szocs, Hirano and Hayata were the closest to beating her) are pretty much the only TWO they can rely on?

https://www.douyin.com/video/7246417270975647028
CCTV actually cut that part out, https://tv.cctv.com/2023/06/19/VIDEzYCjsqGuD0KT00eaz27R230619.shtml
Same thing, @15:38, https://tv.cctv.com/2023/06/19/VIDEO8B8AmiVp6jEsc7PR1X2230619.shtml

Edited by zeio - 07/03/2023 at 3:52pm

zeio wrote: Li Sun has said in a recent interview that the lineup for Asian Games will be announced in early July. With WMY's form at WTTC 2023 (in addition to losing to DHK and YJN), WYD's defeats to grandma Ni, Hirano and Hayata, CXT's shaky win against CIC, utter losses against Szocs and HY, SYS (1365 days of undefeated record against foreign players ended by Hirano) and CM (besides Szocs, Hirano and Hayata were the closest to beating her) are pretty much the only TWO they can rely on?

There's no way I see ML making the Olympics on points ratio, WCQ has established himself as the 2nd best player in the world (at least), I don't see ML making a lot of points for the Olympics because tournaments are so few, Maybe China has to send him and the younger team alone so he can get an easy tournament win. I think based on experience, pedigree and skill, Ma Long is probably more trustworthy than WCQ in the team's eyes , but this selection race has perhaps just shot the team's goal in the foot. If things continue as they are, it's likely WCQ makes singles and ML makes the team event.

troubadour wrote: ...but this selection race has perhaps just shot the team's goal in the foot.

QZJ: "This scenario is exactly what we long for." LOL

On the contrary, the moment they published the selection system, it was clear they felt confident enough that the 2 they had in mind would come out on top eventually.

The draw was favorable to China at Tokyo 2020, had Ovtcharov faced FZD and LYJ faced ML instead, the results could've been very different. Ovtcharov and LYJ haven't been exactly the same for the Paris 2024 period but the former has beaten FZD and the latter has beaten ML, and on top of that Harimoto and the Lebrun brothers are set to become the next obstacles, ML is no longer the go-to choice.

The fact that Harimoto revealed in an interview after WTTC 2022 that he wanted to play ML shows he is not afraid of him (WCQ is the one he has the hardest time).





Edited by zeio - 07/09/2023 at 1:48am

A write-up by a Tieba user on WMY's situation
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/8497051890

Not looking good after 0-3 SYS at WTT SCT Ljubljana 2023. She will drop to WR5 after 1000pts from WTT CS ESS 2022 expires on 7/25.

SYS/CM w/ WYD as the 3rd member is looking more likely now.

Now the big question is, when is the entry deadline? No luck finding the prospectus or qualification criteria.

p.s.
The entry deadline for the Paralympics before and after postponement.

https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Hangzhou%202022%20APG%20QC_Updated_Febuary%202023_0.pdf

TIMELINE ... 31 July 2023 Deadline for NPCs to confirm the Entry by Name to the ITF, APC and HAPGOC

https://jppf.jp/index/show-pdf/url/aHR0cHM6Ly9kMmEwdjF4N3F2eGw2Yy5jbG91ZGZyb250Lm5ldC9maWxlcy9zcG9ocC9nYW1lX2luZGl2aWR1YWwvNjIzYWE3ZTliNWZjNS5wZGY=

TIMELINE ... 15 July 2022 Deadline for the NPCs to submit the Entry by Name.

p.s. 2
Drawing clues from other disciplines, the entry deadline for able-bodied seems to be 15 July 2023, as mentioned by the Tieba user I quoted above.

https://inside.fei.org/system/files/ASIAN%20GAMES%202023%20Hangzhou%20CHN%20-%20Entry%20Procedure.pdf

July 15, 2023 at 24:00 (Beijing Time, GMT+8) – HAGOC Official Entry by Name Deadline (equivalent of FEI Definite Entries). This is the unified registration time for all events of the organizing committee and the FEI. (here) By this date, NOC/NF’s must provide the final entries including the athletes and horses who will participate in the Asian Games. Dressage: Maximum 4 Athletes / horses combinations Eventing: Maximum 4 Athletes / horses combinations Jumping: Maximum 4 Athletes / horses combinations, plus one reserve horse. September 16, 2023 at 24:00 (Beijing Time, GMT+8) – Final Deadline for Substitutions (excluding substitutions made in Jumping using the travelling reserve horses). Substitutions must be made from combinations on the FEI published Nominated Entries List.

More:
https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Asian%20Games%202023%20Important%20Update%20-%20Extension%20nominated%20entries%20Horse%20only.pdf

Edited by zeio - 07/10/2023 at 4:12am

Since Wang Yidi already has the Asian Cup, won't this have a limited to no effect on her ranking since only one continental tournament is permitted impact?  Or have the rules changed?

Li Sun, WH, MLin, and Xiao Zhan address the press and explain the reasoning behind the lineup.

https://sports.cctv.com/2023/07/10/ARTIFsDAVFPCrMLIBEdPR7Gz230710.shtml

“杭州亚运会是我们巴黎奥运会备战过程中非常重要的比赛，全队按照此前公布的巴黎奥运会参赛选拔办法中规定的国际大赛报名规则，以杭州亚运会报名截止前最新一期世界排名为依据，也就是7月4日的世界排名，选出男女队排名靠前的5名队员入选团体阵容；团体阵容中，排名靠前的两名选手获得单打资格；双打比赛是奥运会团体赛中的第一场球，因此男女双打项目上，教练组会根据比赛的要求进行多种配对组合的尝试，综合评定选出最合适的参赛队员。”国家队总教练李隼在介绍名单时这样�£读道。 同时他表态称：“我相信我们的所有队员，一定会在家门�£举行的亚运会上取得最终的胜利。” ... 对此，李隼表示：“综合性运动会由于整体名额的限制，运动员兼项几乎不可避免。哪怕是明年的巴黎奥运会，我们的队员也有可能面临兼项的选择。所以这次亚运会对兼项的运动员来说也是一个很好的锻炼机会，重点是要做好比赛时不同项目间状态的调整，以及体能、身体的储备。”

http://ent.people.com.cn/n1/2023/0710/c1012-40032001.html

国家队总教练李隼在介绍名单时说：“杭州亚运会是我们巴黎奥运会备战过程中非常重要的比赛，全队按照此前公布的巴黎奥运会参赛选拔办法中规定的国际大赛报名规则，以杭州亚运会报名截止前最新一期世界排名为依据，也就是7月4日的世界排名，选出男女队排名靠前的5名队员入选团体阵容；团体阵容中，排名靠前的两名选手获得单打资格；双打比赛是奥运会团体赛中的第一场球，因此男女双打项目上，教练组会根据比赛的要求进行多种配对组合的尝试，综合评定选出最合适的参赛队员。我相信我们的所有队员，一定会在家门�£举行的亚运会上取得最终的胜利。” 同时，李隼还表示：“综合性运动会由于整体名额的限制，运动员兼项几乎不可避免，哪怕是明年的巴黎奥运会，我们的队员也有可能面临兼项的选择。所以这次亚运会对兼项的运动员来说也是一个很好的锻炼机会，重点是要做好比赛时不同项目间状态的调整，以及体能、身体的储备。” 针对男队报名情况，主教练王皓表示：“团体和单打根据此前公布的办法，按世界排名选出参赛队员，其实也是我们队最强的配置。男双项目，王楚钦/樊振东刚刚在德班世乒赛上搭�£拿到冠军，现在整体状态和势头都不错，这次作为我们的一双。林高远/梁靖崑此前就多次搭�£过，实力和默契都不错，这次作为二号双打，希望不同的组合都能得到�£�练。” 女队主教练马琳认为亚运会作为巴黎奥运备战中一次重要的大赛，女队要全力以赴，力争金牌，“除了女队团体和单打名单按照世界排名产生外，两对女双也是队内现在最强的组合。陈梦/王艺迪是今年德班世乒赛的冠军原配组合，孙颖莎/王曼昱之前拿过两届世乒赛冠军，也希望她们能通过亚运会的双打比赛，为巴黎奥运会团体赛做准备”。 混双组长肖战谈到混双名单时说：“王楚钦/孙颖莎作为德班世乒赛混双冠军直接入选。另外一对混双人选需要从亚运会团体阵容中选出，这样在德班世乒赛上获得铜牌的小将林诗栋/蒯曼就没有机会了。参照亚运会男女团体阵容，考虑到整个选拔周期混双搭配的变化以及整体排名和个人能力，最终确定林高远/王艺迪为另一对混双组合。”面对杭州亚运会，肖战补充说：“杭州亚运会混双项目对手实力非常强，混双世界排名前八的组合都在亚洲。可以说这两对选手面临的挑战不小，但我们的目标不变，就是拿下冠军。”

The head coach of the national team, Li Sun, said when introducing the list: "Hangzhou Asian Games is a very important competition in our preparations for the Paris Olympics. According to the latest world ranking before the entry deadline, that is, the world ranking on July 4, the top 5 players of the men's and women's teams will be selected for the team lineup; in the team lineup, the top 2 players will be selected for the singles; the doubles competition is the first match in the Olympic team competition. Therefore, in the men's and women's doubles events, the coaching staff will try a variety of pairings and combinations according to the requirements of the competition, and select the most suitable players through comprehensive evaluation. I believe our players will definitely get the ultimate victory at the Asian Games held at the doorstep."

At the same time, Li Sun also said: "Due to the limitation of the overall number of athletes in the multi-sports games, it is almost inevitable for athletes to play multiple events. Even if it is the Paris Olympics next year, our players may also face the choice of multiple events. Therefore, this is also a good opportunity for athletes to exercise, the key point is to do a good job on the adjustment of the state in different events during the competition, as well as physical fitness and physical reserves."

Regarding the entry of the men's team, the head coach Wang Hao said: "The team and singles are selected according to the previously announced method, and the players are selected according to the world ranking. In fact, it is also the strongest configuration of our team. In the men's doubles, Wang Chuqin/Fan Zhendong just won the championship at the World Table Tennis Championships Durban. Their overall condition and momentum are decent now and this time, they will be our No. 1 pair. Lin Gaoyuan/Liang Jingkun have partnered many times before, and their strength and tacit understanding are decent, and this time as the No. 2 pair. I hope the different pairs can can get something out of it.”

The head coach of the women's team, Ma Lin, believes that the Asian Games is an important competition in the preparations for the Paris Olympics. The women's team must go all out to strive for the gold medal. "Other than the women's team and singles which were generated based on the world ranking, the two doubles pairs are currently the strongest combination in the team. Chen Meng/Wang Yidi are the original pair and champions of this year's World Table Tennis Championships Durban. Sun Yingsha/Wang Manyu have won two World Table Tennis Championships before. I also hope that they can prepare for the Paris Olympic team competition through the Asian Games doubles competition."

Mixed doubles team leader Xiao Zhan said when talking about the mixed doubles list: "Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha were directly selected as the mixed doubles champions of the World Table Tennis Championships Durban. Another pair of mixed doubles candidates needs to be selected from the Asian Games team lineup, and so the teenagers Lin Shidong/Kuai Man who won the bronze medal at the World Table Tennis Championships are out of consideration. Referring to the men’s and women’s team lineups in the Asian Games, considering the changes in the mixed doubles mix-and-match, the overall ranking and personal ability throughout the selection cycle, Lin Gaoyuan/Wang Yidi are ultimately determined to be the other mixed doubles pair.” Facing the Hangzhou Asian Games, Xiao Zhan added: “The opponents in the mixed doubles event of the Hangzhou Asian Games are very strong, and the top 8 mixed doubles pairs in the world are all in Asia. It can be said that the challenges faced by these 2 pairs of players are not small, but our goal remains the same, which is to win the title."

Edited by zeio - 07/10/2023 at 9:07am

Still feels like active CM blocking to me...

troubadour wrote: NextLevel wrote: Still feels like active CM blocking to me... Wouldn't that be counterintuitive to the safety layout that the team has favored all these years?? She's not flashy and despite struggles against Hayata, she still has not lost to the Japanese in years.  Unless this is an "exam" for Wang Yidi like the Asian cup was an "exam" for Gaoyuan and Chuqin that they failed. An Olympic Gold medal and a silver medal all but secures CM's place at the next Olympics imo which is what'll be her main goal to finish an illustrious career, In major tournaments that are of lesser significance compared to the WTTC/Olympics the goal is to win as always but I think they're giving themselves room to push players that they feel should be doing better. Or come to think of it, maybe the messaging to the players is Yidi - do your best and don't lose to foreigners at least, Shasha - No Chen Meng to stop Ito or Hirano , Onus is on you to get the job done, you must bring the cup home to prove yourself worthy of reliance. So more like a test for Shasha. Don't mind me, just going through possible plots going through the coaching team's minds lol