As the 2019 World Championships is just 10 days away, here's a brief summary/updates on how the teams are doing.
A. Team China: CNT Headed Austria For Final Preparation
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| Photo: Table Tennis World |
The Chinese roster for 2019 WTTC:
Men's singles: Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin, Lin Gaoyuan, Liang Jingkun
Women's singles: Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen, Chen Meng. Wang Manyu, Sun Yingsha
Men's doubles: Ma Long / Wang Chuqin, Lin Gaoyuan / Liang Jingkun
Women's doubles: Chen Meng / Zhu Yuling, Wang Manyu / Sun Yingsha
Mixed doubles: Xu Xin / Liu Shiwen, Fan Zhendong / Ding Ning
Source: Table Tennis World
Catch Up China News
New CNT Coaching Team Announced (Feb):
Former Olympic and World champions Ma Lin, Chen Qi, Qiu Yike etc. joined CNT coaching team. Liu Guoliang, president of CTTA, launched a comprehensive scheme assessing the performance of the coaching team to push the team forward leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Marvellous 12 (Feb):
Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng topped the Chinese trials and booked their place at 2019 WTTC singles event.
CNT Closed-Door Training (Mar):
First time ever, the men's and women's team trained at the same base. The women's team benefited from training at a higher intensity and the improvements are significant. The training camp has also put more emphasis on mixed doubles which is a new event introduced to the Olympics. Yet, what comes the same with the past closed training is the 'Great Wall' with pictures of potential opponents!
Ma Long's Comeback (Mar):
Ma Long topped the men's singles podium at Qatar Open after being out of international competitions for 8 months.
Warm-Up Match (Apr):
Xu Xin / Liu Shiwen played against 2013 men's doubles champion Zhou Yu / Yan An and lost 2-4. The mixed doubles see a few strong pairs in the field, including their compatriots Fan Zhendong / Ding Ning. Despite coming into the World Championships as the favourite, the pairs would like to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Asian Cup (Apr):
All-Chinese finals for both the men's and the women's events were staged in Yokohama, Japan. Fan Zhendong and Zhu Yuling defend their title, winning over Ma Long and Chen Meng respectively in the finals.
B. Team Hong Kong: Targeting Points To Earn Team Qualification To Olympics
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Photo: HK01
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Wong Chun Ting / Doo Hoi Kem placed third in mixed doubles at 2015 and 2017 WTTC, will be Hong Kong's hope to medal in mixed doubles. Doo Hoi Kem said she had better communication with her mixed doubles partner as they get more mature over the years. While Wong Chun Ting thinks medalling would be more challenging than ever as other teams have put more focus on the event and study their tactics. Yet, the 2 bronze medals would be their motivations and they hope to contend for better placement at the championships. Meanwhile, their teammates Ho Kwan Kit / Lee Ho Ching who won bronze at the 2018 Asian Games could also potentially end up on the podium.
Mixed doubles aside, head coach Chan Kong Wah would like to see athletes earn big points in the singles event and improve their individual world rankings which is decisive for the team seeding at the qualification event of the 2020 Olympics.
Hong Kong's roster for 2019 WTTC:
Men's singles: Wong Chun Ting, Ho Kwan Kit, Ng Pak Nam, Lam Siu Hang, Su Zhi
Women's singles: Doo Hoi Kem, Lee Ho Ching, Soo Wai Yam Minnie, Ng Wing Nam, Zhu Chengzhu
Men's doubles: Wong Chun Ting / Ho Kwan Kit, Ng Pak Nam / Lam Siu Hang
Women's doubles: Doo Hoi Kem / Lee Ho Ching, Soo Wai Yam Minnie / Ng Wing Nam
Mixed doubles: Wong Chun Ting / Doo Hoi Kem, Ho Kwan Kit / Lee Ho Ching
Source: HK01
C. Team Japan: Tomokazu Harimoto Withdraw Mixed Doubles
Tomokazu Harimoto will drop 1 out of the 3 events he will be taking part at 2019 WTTC. He decided to sit out the mixed doubles event due to an inflammation in his ring finger. The spot is substituted by Maharu Yoshimura. Japan will now have 2017 mixed doubles champion Maharu Yoshimura / Kasumi Ishikawa defending the title at 2019 WTTC. However many do not think the defending world champion will be repeating their success as they bowed out early at the 2019 All Japan Championships. Whereas the mixed doubles national champion Masataka Morizono / Ito Mima are widely considered to have a better chance of making to the podium.
Catch Up Japan News
2019 All Japan National Championships:
Ito Mima dominated the national championships winning all 3 titles at the national championships and is the only one in history to do that 2 years in a row. Jun Mizutani won his 10th national title and announced this would be his last nationals.
Japan Trials for 2019 WTTC:
Big upset for Hina Hayata as she was shocked out by darkhorse Kato Miyu. The winner of the 23rd Lion Cup / Japan Trials goes to Hariomoto Tomokazu and Kasumi Ishikawa.
Last Words
Mark your schedule, sit back and relax!
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