Friday, August 6th, 2021
Perfection and insane dominance
The merciless sensational Chinese
By Tobias Nordmann
Probably no other gold medal would have been more difficult to win at these Olympic Games than that in the men’s table tennis team competition. The Chinese have been dominant for decades. But what they show in Tokyo is somehow out of this world.
Perhaps Dimitrij Ovtcharov has never played table tennis better in his life than in the individual semifinals against Ma Long. In an epic battle, Germany’s top player had offered what was probably the best player of all time a merciless fight. In terms of dynamism, tension and drama, this duel in the 14 days in Tokyo was unbeatable. In no other sport. At the end of an insane game, Ovtcharov only narrowly admitted defeat. But once again he had to admit: This Ma Long is a sensation.
The bitter thing about this realization: Ma Long is not an isolated case. At least not a single Chinese case. Because there is also this fan Zhendong, the first in the world rankings. Both contested (of course) in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium the duel for gold. Ma Long had the better day. He had even ruled his opponent. In the 4-2 sets he had played himself to the champions. If you are not fascinated by this sport, you just have to watch these two. Best when they are facing each other. You don’t really have to say that a team led by these table tennis icons is also the absolute top favorite for gold in the team competition. And the truth about the record is actually even more blatant: no title was more utopian for other nations than this one.
As the last (desperate) authority on the way to the Olympic triumph, Germany now stood in the way of the dominance of the Chinese. Nice try. Not more. With 3-0, Fan Zhendong, Ma Long and Xu Xin hammered their way to defend their title. Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska had no chance in doubles. Ma Long and Xu Xin were just too good. They were way too good. In the second sentence they only allowed the Germans three points. That is a powerful announcement. The final set in the game between Ovtachrov and Fan Zhendong also ended with 3:11. The 32-year-old had nothing to reproach himself for. Perhaps Ovtarchrov didn’t play as sensationally as in the singles semi-finals, but once again he played outstandingly well.
Ovtcharov’s little triumph over China
Again and again the two delivered rallies, which are actually impossible. Mostly with the better outcome for the world number one. His aggressive backhand often forced Ovtcharov directly on the defensive, he had to react (too) often instead of acting. Whenever he could build up pressure, he usually made the point. Germany’s top player and bronze champion was even 2-1 ahead in sets. But it is not without reason that Zhendong currently tops the list of the best. “Maybe in the end I was missing a few grains,” reflected Ovtcharov, who with six Olympic medals has more than any other player in history – including all Chinese.
Boll also played outstandingly in the last individual against Ma Long. Perhaps Boll made his best game in Tokyo. He won the third set after fending off two match points with courageous attacks. What an impressive mental strength. But Ma Long didn’t slack off for a second, he straightened Boll, forcing him far away from the plate, only to put his painful (Winner) stitches mercilessly. He uses the sixth match ball. “He’s not a two-time individual Olympic champion for nothing,” said the 40-year-old.
But what do you want to do when you meet opponents who are just superhuman? The best thing to do is to simply enjoy silver. “We played a big tournament, also in the final. We had our small chance. We are very proud of this tournament and we are more than satisfied with the silver medal,” said coach Jörg Roßkopf. “We have confirmed again that we are the second best nation in the world after the Chinese.” Boll, the former number one in the world, who has the status of a superstar in China, admitted: “Right after the final we were disappointed, of course. But we cannot blame ourselves. Respect the Chinese, they gave full throttle from the start . ” Even Patrick Franziska, whose individual did not even come about, did not let any gold frustration arise: “We are all very proud. The ceremony was very emotional, I had to push away a few tears.”
A defeat with an announcement
In fact, it had been a defeat with an announcement. Anything other than the Olympic victory for China would have been a sensation. And probably even more than that, if sensation could be increased. “Our team tickled the Chinese dragon, fought bravely against it, but unfortunately could not tame it in the end,” said DTTB President Michael Geiger. How absurd the dominance of Asians is can also be statistically proven: Since the team competition premiered in Beijing in 2008, the “Dragons” have won all 17 games – 15 of them 3-0 and two 3-1.
The Germans want to start the next gold attack in Paris in three years. “That will always remain our goal. Faith has never been greater than perhaps today, but you have to acknowledge that they were very strong and also too strong,” said Franziska. “But I think that this is the big goal in table tennis and also a goal that we still want to achieve together.” With Boll, the 43-year-old Boll? “There is still a long way to go before the next Olympic Games. Let’s see,” he said. “I definitely don’t want to take someone’s place away if I no longer belong in terms of performance.” Boll knows as well as hardly anyone else: A team from China can only be beaten with a perfect game. A sensational performance is not enough. What a frustrating realization.
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