In Translation: Ma Long's Path From Injury To 3-Time Men's Singles World Champion

How does positive thinking help Ma Long came back mentally stronger after an injury? Here's a translated interview about the 3-time men's singles world champion, Ma Long.

History: Fun Facts About WTTC When Budapest Hosted the World Championships

Why did every match hosted in Hungary start with an 'edge'? Why did players stay up late for the World Championships? Discover more stories about World Table Tennis Championships in Hungary.

More Table Tennis in the Year of the Dog

Photo: 刘国梁's Weibo

Happy Chinese New Year, readers! It's Chinese New Year, and as always, that means holidays and many celebrations. As we are still enjoying the long holiday, the Chinese athletes are busy in all sorts of activities, such as showing up in a Chinese New Year Gala and training for the upcoming Team World Cup this February in London.

2018 Team World Cup Selection Results

After 2 days of intense trials, Chen Xingtong and Wang Manyu end up top 2 among 7 players and will join Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling to compete in the 2018 Team World Cup which will be held in London from 22 to 25 February. The Chinese team will be sending Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin, Lin Gaoyuan and Yu Ziyang to compete in the men's team competition.

In Translation: Documentary: Ma Long's Table Tennis Story In Anshan

The New York Times Travel Magazine produced a short documentary about Ma Long revisiting his hometown in Anshan, Liaoning, China. 

Recap: 2017 Men's World Cup

Photo: ITTF

The 2017 Men's World Cup concluded unexpectedly with an all-German finals. Dimitrij Ovtcharov won his first ever World Cup champion, his compatriot, Timo Boll placed second and Ma Long from China settled for third.

Throwback Thursday: Moments At The Past Asian Cup

When the National Games has just wrapped up, an exciting table tennis week is coming ahead. There are European Team Championships, Asian Cup, Austrian Open, T2 APAC and many table tennis competitions taking place in this and the coming week. As a companion piece of the 2017 Asian Cup schedule / live stream links, I decided to write a Throwback Thursday that highlights special moments in the past Asian Cup!

13th Chinese National Games: Their Goals

I'm way more excited for the 13th Chinese National Games than I've been in a really long time, because there will be world-class Chinese table tennis athletes as well as upcoming future stars striving for 7 titles in 10 days. The Games will take place from 28 August to 6 September in Tianjin. With 3 days to go and no news about the draw of the single events, let's have a look at the goals of each team and athlete at the 13th Chinese National Games.

CNG Throwback: More Than A Victory, A Breakthrough

The Chinese National Games table tennis event is always ended with a spectacular men's singles finals. The table tennis men's singles champion at the Games does not only represents the highest level of Chinese table tennis but sometimes means a lot more to the athlete himself. Our last CNG Throwback will revisit the men's singles semifinals at the 2013 Chinese National Games.

Photo: cfp.cn

13th Chinese National Games: Men's Doubles Preview

In the past week, we have watched some men's doubles competitions from the past Games. If I have to describe the men's doubles competition in one sentence, I might want to borrow a quote from Forrest Gump. "Men's doubles competition at the Chinese National Games is like a box of chocolate!" You never know who is going to win. It's unpredictable, dramatic, exciting and enjoyable to watch! So let's get into it right away (catch up the CNG intro, XD preview and WD preview here). 

CNG Throwback: Grand-Slam Partnership in Mixed Doubles

CNG Throwback will revisit the mixed doubles finals at 2013 Chinese National Games. As the CNG preview which will be released tomorrow will be mentioning the champion-winning pairs for many times despite the fact that they will not compete in the 13th Games (2017). Make sure you follow the blog (click the blue button on the right-hand column) and the CNG preview which give you a better idea on the Chinese National Games scheduled from 28 August to 6 September.

Mixed Doubles Award Ceremony at the 12th Chinese National Games
Photo: 华奥星空

In Translation: Table Tennis Documentary About The Marvellous 12

As the big events like World Championships and World Tour platinum have ended, there are not many occasions where the top Chinese players show up. With 49 days left to go before the Chinese National Games, most athletes choose to utilize every minute they have to train behind the closed door. Well, we can still find some in T2 APAC, a pan-regional table tennis league and UTTL, India's professional table tennis league. However the number of Chinese players is nowhere near the Chinese National Games and the Marvellous 12. Fortunately, Tecent Sports has presented a documentary (was taken down after the Chendu Three incident) about the Marvellous 12 just in time to fill up the off season. 

Reasons For The Chinese Men's Team Withdrawn From Australia Open

CTTA released an announcement explaining the withdrawal of the Chinese Men's Team in 2017 Australia Open.

Chinese National Team Apology Letter

At 21:49, 24 June, the Chinese National Team has signed an apology letter and released on CTTA website. Fan Zhendong and Ma Long have posted the letter on their Weibo as well.

CTTA Releases A Statement -- Key Words: Kong Linghui, The Restructure and The Walkover

At 20:50 24 June, CTTA released a statement to respond the public concern on Kong Linghui's scandal, the restructure of the Chinese National Team and the Chengdu Three (Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin) walkover. Do not have high hopes for the statement, the future remains gloomy.

What? Why? Who?: The Top 3 Players Pulled Out From China Open

I should release a new post of Y2Klub but having Ma Long, Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong walked over the 2017 China Open has stopped me from writing the new post. I do not want to write about any gossips in this blog but I believe this incident should leave a mark in this blog.

What happened?

Recap: 2017 Dusseldorf WTTC

Hello, it's been a long time for not updating. I'm not being lazy but because it has been a long busy week (following matches, translating interviews...). I've been catching up some matches of 2017 WTTC recently because there were so many amazing matches played simultaneously in the championships. If you have missed some matches, you can catch up or re-watch the matches on ITTV like what I've been doing these days. I have not covered every match of 2017 WTTC (as there are too many of them but I might catch up more eventually) but the followings are a summary and my thoughts on 2017 WTTC. Please comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts on 2017 WTTC!

In Translation: The Chinese Team in 2017 WTTC (CCTV5 Report)

The 2017 World Table Tennis Championships will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, from 29 May to 5 June. It can be overwhelming to track down all the 330 male and 264 female players who will be playing in the 2017 WTTC. But the Chinese are definitely those you don't want to miss as they are the favorite of the championships. CCTV 5 has produced fluff featuring the Chinese players who will play in 2017 WTTC. Check the playlist below to watch the fluff with English subtitles!

The Chinese team is heading to Luxembourg for a 1-week training in the China Table Tennis College (Europe Division) on May 20 and then will leave for Dusseldorf on May 27 for 2017 WTTC.

Apart from the Worlds participants, the Chinese are sending more players and staff to backup the team's preparation for 2017 WTTC.

Throwback Thursday: Liu Guoliang and Kim Taek Soo Pair Up to Play Men's Doubles -- The 0.5 Medal, Transnational Collaboration in Table Tennis

1 month leading up to the 2017 Dusseldorf World Championships while the Korea Open has just ended. There are not much to follow until the World Championships starts. No worries! Throwback Thursday will feature players and fluffs related to the Worlds in the coming 5 weeks. Check the "Marvellous 12", the Chinese Trials, to know more about the selection/competition process of the Worlds participants of the Chinese team. Follow the blog for the weekly-updated Throwback Thursday.

Liu Guoliang and Kim Taek Soo playing men's doubles in 2005
Photo: Sina Sport

Day 2 Results: Men's Team & Women's Team -- 13th Chinese National Games Prelims

Day 2 Results -- First Taste of Victory for the Amateur Team Macau 

Day 2 of the men's team and women's team event came up with quite a breakthrough for Macau women's team. There are 33 teams competing in the preliminary round but not all of them are professional table tennis players.