It is a paradox that the Chinese have dominated the world's table tennis but not quite at the Asian Games. This Throwback Thursday is looking back at some of those moments at the Asian Games just to in honour of the 2018 Asian Games which will take place this weekend, from 26 August to 1 September in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Table Tennis at Asian Games
Asian Games is a continental multi-sport event which takes place every 4 years. Table tennis has been contested at the Asian Games since 1958 with 7 events men's and women's team, singles, doubles and mixed doubles, except the 1970 Asian Games where the sport was excluded. The 2018 Asian Games calls off the men's and women's doubles events with 5 table tennis events remaining, equivalent to the number of events which will be featured at the 2020 Olympics. The reduction of the number of table tennis events may not be popular among table tennis supporters because it reduces the diversity of table tennis matches at the Games. Let alone, athletes who will now have fewer chances to contend for individual glory.
Limitations aside, the Asian Games can still be a thriller that you will never want to miss. Though the world rankings point awarded at the Asian Games is a far cry from the World Tour, it can be as exciting as the World Tour events, if not more intense. Since many powerhouses for table tennis are in Asia, such as Korea, Chinese Taipei, Japan, DPR. Korea and Hong Kong are capable of sneaking a few titles out of Chinese domination. Oftentimes, rising stars steal the spotlight of the Games which held in the midpoint of an Olympic cycle when countries groom new stars before the Olympics.
Going through the stats, China has captured 61 out of 77 gold medals since its first Asian Games in 1974, enjoying a commanding lead in the medal table. Meanwhile, Japan is second with 20 gold medals and Korea with 10 gold medals for third. Just because the other teams aren't matching the accomplishment of the Chinese doesn't mean the competition field has no suspense. China only managed to make a clean sweep (winning 7 gold medals) in 1978 and 2010, in other words, some teams or individuals managed to knock off the Chinese at the other 9 Asian Games. Some competitions are well preserved on Youtube (check the links below or the playlist at the end of the article). So before the Games starts, I hope you will go back and enjoy some of the notable moments at the Asian Games!
Throwbacks
1. Republic of Korea
The Korean teams have upset the Chinese quite a few times at the Asian Games. Long-time table tennis supporters may recall the 1986 Asian Games where the Koreans won men's singles, men's team and women's team gold at home and perhaps the women's team finals at 1990 Asian Games where the Koreans handed the meet over to the Chinese at the last moment. Whereas younger members of the table tennis community may remember the 2002 Asian Games which the host teams (Korea) won men's doubles and women's doubles champion. Each victory at the Asian Games may mean significantly to their time and their country and it is hard to include all of them in this Throwback. So if I have to revisit one match from the Koreans, this is the one to go for.
1998 Asian Games Men's Singles Finals: Liu Guoliang (CHN) Vs Kim Taek Soo (KOR)
Liu Guoliang and Kim Taek Soo were penhold legends at their time and became national team coaches after their retirements. They played against each other numerous times during their competitive career and even went head to head at 2010 Asian Games Men's Team Finals as the head coach of the national team. While Liu Guoliang won most of the encounters, it was Kim Taek Soo's day at the 1998 Asian Games. Kim Taek Soo beat Kong Linghui in the men's singles semifinals and then Liu Guoliang in the finals.
Here are rare footage of the 1998 Asian Games men's singles finals (starts at 09:12, the other part of the video featured the 1998 World Cup SF)) I found on Youtube. Though the 21-point system and the traditional penhold technique are part of the era now long gone, the captivating lobbing at 16:25 has been rooted in many table tennis lovers' memories. Another amazing trick featured in this match was the penhold-to-shakehand switch played by Kim Taek Soo at 19:55. I don't recall anyone else has played this skill in recent years and I doubt anyone will attempt the trick with the popularization of the reverse penhold technique but that shot, I believe, was a bold, innovative and effective move back in those days.
2002 Asian Games Men's Team (4) SF: Chiang Peng Lung (TPE) Vs Kim Taek Soo (KOR)
[Watch: Match 1: Chuang Chih Yuan (TPE) Vs Kim Taek Soo (KOR)]
Please forgive me for being biased to include this match on the list. The 2002 Asian Games men's team semifinals between Korea and Chinese Taipei is the first table tennis match I watched live on TV. I remember that day after school, I sat glued to my television set watching the entire team match by myself (it happened that my parents were not around at home). Back then I was too young to understand the match (and Asian Games) nor did I have the authority to take control of what to be played on TV. Therefore, this was the only match I had watched from the 2002 Asian Games. However, I was mesmerized by the exciting table tennis matches and learnt a few names from the table tennis world, Kim Taek Soo and Chiang Peng Lung. The semifinals went neck and neck. In the end, Korea edged over Chinese Taipei with a 3-2 victory. I could not find a complete version of the match online but look at the footwork and versatility of both players! How does someone doesn't love table tennis?
2. Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei's one and only gold medal at the table tennis event were from the 1958 Asian Games when Lee Kuo Ting won their historic men's singles gold. However, do not count the team out as the team has always been a medal contender at the Asian Games in the past 20 years. The men's team led by veteran Chuang Chih Yuan who will be competing at his sixth Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, stands out in particular. I think their chances of winning a medal could be in men's team, singles and mixed doubles.
2002 Asian Games Men's Singles Finals: Wang Liqin (CHN) Vs Chuang Chih Yuan (TPE)
Here's Chuang Chih Yuan at his second Asian Games where he beat Kong Linghui 4-0 in the semifinals and settled for second after losing 0-4 to reigning World champion at the time Wang Liqin. The 4-game match is not one-sided at all. Game 2 and 3 were Chuang Chih Yuan's biggest chance to gain an edge over Wang Liqin. However, the world champion patiently made his way back from a 0-7 deficit in game 2, a 4-8 down in game 3 and a 2-6 in game 4, and regained the men's singles title. As the sport evolves, table tennis nowadays is a different picture from the one 16 years ago, so does Chuang Chih Yuan. He is no longer the young, aggressive but inconsistent player that we saw from 2002. Let's see how far does his experience takes him to at the 2018 Asian Games.
3. Japan
Before the Chinese were strongly in the mix, Japan led the table tennis field at the Asian Games in the 1950s and 60s. Since the 1974 Asian Games, the Chinese put themselves at the forefront topping the podium in most of the events. That is, until the 1994 Asian Games, former Chinese table tennis player Chire Koyama, competed for Japan under her married name and won the women's singles title with a 3-1 victory over Deng Yaping. Despite the victory, opinions were diverted from the results into the controversy of the introduction of in-coming Chinese players.
1994 Asian Games Women's Singles Finals: Deng Yaping (CHN) Vs Chire Koyama (JPN)
I have never watched the full match of the 1994 Asian Games Women's Singles Finals. This short clip is all I could find online. However, you could feel the tension of the match by just watching 3 minutes of the match. Deng Yaping's backhand long-pip attack and her quick and aggressive style had put her in a class of her own. However, Chire Koyama was exceptionally competitive in the finals, perhaps she had gained confidence after beating another Chinese player Chen Qing in the quarterfinals on the same day. Her determination to win and her block contributed her a comfortable lead and she sealed the gold in Hiroshima, Japan, in front of the 'home crowd'.
2014 Asian Games Women's Team Finals: Ding Ning (CHN) Vs Fukuhara Ai (JPN)
20 years after the women's singles gold, the Japanese women once again challenged the Chinese at the 2014 Asian Games. This time in the women's team finals which Fukuhara Ai won 3-1 over Ding Ning the most experienced and decorated table tennis player on the defending champion team. In the end, China successfully defended their title by winning the next 3 matches but the defeat at the start was certainly a shock to China. Zhu Yuling will be experiencing a similar position as Ding Ning 4 years ago as she will be competing, as the anchor of the team, in the women's team only at the 2018 Asian Games. She mentioned in a recent interview that, Ding Ning's story reminded her to stay focus and be prepared for the huge pressure though she will compete for one event only and her goal is to win every match at the Asian Games and help her teammates to play well.
4. Hong Kong
One of the teams that truly benefited from the in-coming Chinese players is Hong Kong. Li Ching and Ko Lai Chak, the former Chinese national team members, represented Hong Kong at the 2004 Olympics and won silver in men's doubles which is Hong Kong's first ever Olympic medal, since the handover in 1997. The 2006 Asian Games men's doubles finals was a rematch of the 2004 Olympic men's doubles finals and the Olympic silver medalists made sweet revenge winning 4-2 over Olympic champion Chen Qi and Ma Lin. The players pass on their experiences and continue inspiring generations of Hong Kong table tennis players after their retirement. Li Ching becomes the coach of the Hong Kong women's team and will coach a team of local-born players at the 2018 Asian Games. While Ko Lai Chak focuses on youth table tennis development programs, delivering coaching sessions for school teams and private lessons.
2006 Asian Games Men's Doubles Finals: Ma Lin / Chen Qi (CHN) Vs Li Ching / Ko Lai Chak (HKG)
5. DPR. Korea
Historically, DPR. Korea team was often described as mysterious, unpredictable and fierce. As they seldom compete in international competitions and all of a sudden pull off an upset of the favourites in the tournament. One of an unexpected victory happened at the 2002 Asian Games women's team finals which they knocked out the Chinese by 3-1. The mysterious DPR. Korea team is no longer flying under the radar. It has been hitting headlines for the last few months especially after joining forces with the Republic of Korea women's team in the semifinals at 2018 WTTC in Halmstad, Sweden and more doubles collaboration at 2018 Korea Open. Unfortunately, it seems that we will not see a unified Korea team at the 2018 Asian Games because it is reported that KTTA would rather keep their full quota of players in all individual events than sacrificing the quota for a unified team.
2014 Asian Games Mixed Doubles Finals: Lee Ho Ching / Jiang Tianyi (HKG) Vs Kim Hyokbong / Kim Jong (PRK)
DPR Korea's second gold medal in table tennis comes from 2014 mixed doubles. Long-time mixed doubles partner Kim Hyokbong and Kim Jong came into the tournament as the reigning mixed doubles world champion at the time. They defeated the Chinese pair and the Japanese duo in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively and won 4-1 over the Hong Kong pair in the finals. What I like about the North Korean pair is their competitive spirit shown in the counters.
6. Singapore
I would like to dedicate the final part of this throwback to Singapore. Singapore has never won a gold medal in table tennis at Asian Games but the team has won a considerable number of medals over the last 20 years thanks to the contribution of the incoming Chinese players. Yet, it seems that they are experiencing a downfall in recent years. As I wrote in the article Singapore Squad for the 2018 Asian Games, a couple of athletes decline and retire due to ageing and injuries. Meanwhile, the team do not have enough young players at a high enough level to contend with other major world power, making Gao Ning the sole male athlete on the Asian Games squad. While not quite a medal contender just yet due to a lack of depth, with a bit of star power, the 2018 Commonwealth mixed doubles champion Gao Ning and Yu Mengyu will be the team's hope to challenge for a medal at the 2018 Asian Games, though of course it won't be easy with China, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong in the mix. It is unusual not to see Singapore coming into the Asian Games with a complete squad and I hope the association would work on building a strong upcoming generation and reach for podium heights once again four years from now.
2014 Asian Games Men's Doubles Semifinals: Li Hu / Gao Ning (SGP) Vs Xu Xin / Fan Zhendong (CHN)
It could be quite challenging when your opponents were from China and even more challenging when Xu Xin, the king of the doubles was in the run. Gao Ning and Li Hu were the weaker pairs in the 2014 Asian Games men's doubles semifinals playing against Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong who got the silver medal to Zhang Jike and Ma Long's gold on this event but they had given everything they could to pull off a good match in Incheon, South Korea. The Singaporean pair had demonstrated a wide range of techniques, footwork and ball placement in this match. It happened the Chinese duo were too domineering in the counter loops and headed to the finals after a 4-1 victory.
Competitive sport is always cruel because oftentimes winners are remembered but not the losers especially in a multi-sport event like the Asian Games which news of victory flooded the headline. However looking at the history, some teams and individuals learn from their defeats and come back stronger. While some did not make their redemption, their effort in pulling off great matches are to be lauded.
Check the lineups of other teams for the 2018 Asian Games:
China
India
Japan
Chinese Taipei
Hong Kong
Korea
Singapore
About Table Tennis in the 2018 Asian Games
Table tennis competitions at the 2018 Asian Games consists of 5 events, namely, men's team, women's team, men's singles women's singles and mixed doubles touched down at Jakarta, Indonesia, from 26 August to 1 September. For more details about table tennis at the 2018 Asian Games click here.
Playlist: Table Tennis at Asian Games (1986-2018)
*Check our updates with the most recent match appearing at the top of the playlist!!!
The Team Draw
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| ITTF World |
Where are Live Streams?
ReplyDeleteI have put a link of the Olympic Channel (above the team draw) which may be streaming the competition but I am not sure about it because I will be following the Games on TV. Or you may try to search on Youtube to see if someone upload the matches.
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