It was a long-sought gold medal that defeated "the strongest China".
In the final of the Tokyo Olympics, a new event of table tennis, and mixed doubles, a pair of Japanese players Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito won a gold medal by beating the Chinese pair with a game count of 4 to 3.
On the other hand, the defeated Chinese player cried "I'm sorry for the team" and responded to the interview, making me feel the magnitude of the impact on the Chinese team.
Smile and tears
A mix zone where players are interviewed after the awards ceremony.
Next to the Chinese player who sheds tears, Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito answer the interview with a big smile.
It was a sight to feel the reality that Japan broke through the thick walls of China, which had been bounced off many times.
Mizutani and Ito won the first gold medal in the Japanese table tennis world in the Tokyo Olympics table tennis and mixed doubles of the new event.
The reason for the victory was the technical capabilities of Ito, who responded to the ball of a Chinese male player who boasts one of the most powerful players in the world, and Mizutani, who assisted it.
“The strongest China”
China has dominated gold medals in all three events from the 2008 Beijing Games to the previous Rio de Janeiro Games.
In this tournament as well, we have been aiming for gold medals in men's and women's singles, men's and women's groups, mixed doubles and all events.
Unlike Japan, where Ito participates in the third event, China separates mixed doubles and singles players who are close in schedule, and Xu * Kin and Liu Shiwen * Bun only participate in mixed doubles and groups.
The two were poised to focus on mixed doubles during the first half of the Olympic schedule.
Cause of victory
A Chinese male player, Xu, is a "pen holder" who holds a racket as if he were holding a pen, which is rare nowadays.
The forehand drive is one of the most powerful in the world, with a unique trajectory that is different from other players.
In mixed doubles, a female player must return the ball of a player who is difficult to hit even for a male player.
In the final, Ito was pushed by the power of Xu's ball in the early stages and struggled to respond, and two games were taken in a row.
However, when entering the third game, there were many scenes in which Ito, who gradually got used to the ball of Xu, returned, and even in a long rally, he hit back without losing power and broke the rhythm of the Chinese pair.
Xu
"I felt that Ito was getting used to his ball. Ito has a stronger mental power to hit back without hesitation than other boys."
Ito
"I lost with feelings anyway. I thought I shouldn't do it, and because I was able to handle the ball of Xu, the flow changed steadily. "
" Mizutani took the plunge and took the tough course. I was able to prevent Xu from hitting with 100% power. "
Mizutani, who hits in front of Xu, took a tough course and lost his position, reducing the power of Xu's ball and assisting Ito to return easily.
Japan has succumbed to China while hunting down to one step.
Mizutani said at a press conference after the awards ceremony.
Mizutani
"The wall of China was and still is higher than you think. I think that the wall of China will be extremely high from now on. Among them, this time I found a little way, or a special stage called the Olympics. Then, I felt that the Chinese players were the same people. I just felt that it was so painful to cross China. ”
After the final, the Chinese table tennis association chairman Liu Guo Liang, who was in the audience seats, said from the spot. Liu, who was unable to stand up easily and lost, responded to the interview with tears, saying, "I'm sorry for not getting the gold medal in the first event," and made me feel the magnitude of the impact on the Chinese team. ..
Will Japan overthrow China in the men's and women's singles and groups that continue after this?
Or will China revenge with the prestige of the World Table Tennis Kingdom?
Keep an eye on future battles.
(* Kin is "loaf" on "day". * Bun is "sentence" under "rain")