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: A Sweet Revenge But Not The Best Ending

Sometimes, though, it is not the finals nor the semifinals and we remember the match well. Perhaps we are left with a strong conviction that had the players not confronted at the early round of the competition, they would have ended up on the podium or the match is as exciting or even more exciting than the finals. Below, CNG Throwback looks at the 2009 Chinese National Games men's doubles finalists at 2013 Chinese National Games!

Photo: Souhu

CNG Throwback: Back-To-Back 7-Game Thriller

Is the previous CNG Throwback (2005 men's doubles finals) captivating, especially the various soft touches played by Ma Lin and Zhang Chao? While some might think it is a bit "old-school" as we are more used to see powerful loops and quick counter-attacks nowadays. CNG Throwback will take a look at a relatively more recent competition, 2009 Chinese National Games men's doubles final which is full of fantastic forehand loops, notably from the forehand masters Wang Liqin and Xu Xin. 

11th Chinese National Games Men's Doubles Award Ceremony in 2009
Photo: Souhu

CNG Throwback: Sensational Seven-Game Thriller!

Over the week, we have revisited some women's doubles competitions from the past Chinese National Games. Now it's time to look at the men's doubles, starting with men's doubles finals at 2005 Chinese National Games.

Award Ceremony of the Men's Doubles at the 10th Chinese National Games in 2005
Photo: tiexue.net

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 6 Results: Men's doubles, Women's doubles and Men's singles -- 13th Chinese National Games Prelims

Day 6 Results: The Calm Before the Storm

Day 6 of the competition includes men's doubles, women's doubles and men's singles. There are a few surprises but nothing mind-blowing. 

The biggest black horse in the women's side, Zhao Lin (Guangxi), has surprised us again in the women's doubles after her impressive 12-straight-win in the prior team competition. She and her partner, Hao Hao (Tibet) forced the renowned national team members Chen Xingtong / Wen Jia (Liaoning) to the last set. Despite losing the match, their performance wins the hearts of the audience. 

Other top-seeded doubles did not face challenges from the young. Xu Xin / Ma Long (Shanghai / Beijing) and Ding Ning / Liu Shiwen (Beijing / Guangdong) romped to victory, using less than 15 minutes to end the match. Well, their victory does not surprise us but we did not expect the competition was that incredibly short. Maybe a few exhibition points at the end of the set next time?

Bounce back is the key word of the men's doubles. There were several matches started with a 0-2 deficit and bounce back winning 3-2, including Ren Hao / Xia Yizheng (Henan) Vs. Xu Chenhao / Zhao Zhaoyan (PLA),  Fan Shengpeng / Cheng Jingqi (Hebei)  Vs. Chen Peng / Cao Meng (Ningxia) and Zhao Zihao / Kong Lingxuan (Shanghai / Shandong) Vs. Liu Jikang / Hao Shuai ( Liaoning / Tianjin) [Watch here on the left]. There is also a 'bounce back' in men's singles, Song Xu (PLA) Vs. Wang Chuqin (Beijing) [ Watch here]. Regarding these I conclude table tennis is like tossing a coin, you never know whether you will win or lose until the last point ends.

In yesterday's competition we saw a wide range of playing styles. The penhold, the choppers, the short-pips...After rounds of competitions, Wu Yang (Shanxi) and Hu Limei (PLA) is the only defensive pair who qualify to the Chinese National Games while the others are dominated by the conventional shakehand players playing with inverted rubber. Thanks for the policies that each team must comprise of a penhold player or chopper for the men's and a penhold player for women's team, choppers and penhold players will not become 'extinct' in the Chinese National Games.

Last but not least, congratulations to the pairs who qualify to the final stage! Check the results below. There will be men's singles and women's singles tomorrow!

Who Vs Who? -- 13th Chinese National Games Prelims Draws (MS/WS/MD/WD/XD)

The draws of the remaining events have announced! Since this is the qualifications of the Chinese National Games, this competition will not come up with the medalists. Names highlighted in yellow are seeds of the competitions. Comment below and guess who we will see in late August in Tianjin!


Mixed Doubles Draws

Coming Up this April -- 2017 Asian Championships Schedule

2017 Asian Championships is less than a month away and finally ittf has announced the general schedule (click here)! For your information, the competition is held in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, a beautiful city also known as 'the Pearl of the Taihu Lake' and the local time is (GMT+8). Make sure you follow the matches on time!

Here is the brief version of the schedule in local time (GMT+8):

7 Events in 7 Days! -- Schedule of the Chinese National Games Prelims

It will be a week jam-packed with competitions! 7 events in one week! Before getting tired of watching table tennis, be prepared for the tables coming up. Yes, I am a 'tablesolic'. Here you go, the schedule!