(Tokyo Olympics) "Captain of China" Malone writes the legend of table tennis
China News Service, Tokyo, July 30th, title: "Captain of China" Ma Long writes the legend of table tennis
China News Agency reporter
In the men's singles final of the Tokyo Olympics on the 30th, facing Fan Zhendong, who is 8 years younger than himself, the grand slam player Ma Long, who said he "enjoyed the game", taught the younger generation a lesson.
Although not in the best condition and suffering from injuries, he won the gold medal as he wished with his experience advantage and a more relaxed attitude at the critical moment, becoming the first player in the history of the Olympic Games to achieve re-election in the men's table tennis singles.
On the evening of July 30, the men's singles final of the Tokyo Olympic Games ushered in the "civil war" of Chinese players.
In the end, Malone defeated Fan Zhendong 4:2 and successfully defended his title.
This is the 19th gold medal of the Chinese delegation in this Olympic Games.
The picture shows Malone kissing the Olympic gold medal.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
At the Rio Olympics 5 years ago, Malone completed the grand slam feat, thus opening his "Era of Malone".
However, as he grows older, the Chinese men's table tennis captain has had a difficult time in the Tokyo Olympic cycle, and two operations once caused him to stay away from the stadium.
During this period, young players at home and abroad such as Fan Zhendong, Lin Gaoyuan, Zhang Benzhihe, Lin Yunru and others grew rapidly, and victory was no longer as easy as before for Ma Long.
In the face of the impact of the younger generations, as Ma Long said, even though he has "achieved fame", but for his love of table tennis, he decided to fight another Olympic Games at the "advanced age" of 32 years old.
To this end, he also shaved his head, which means "start all over again."
The veteran stepped onto the "battlefield" without hesitation.
Despite the tremendous pressure, Ma Long eventually passed all the way and joined Fan Zhendong in the final to ensure that the Chinese team won the Olympic men's singles gold medal for four consecutive years.
It is worth mentioning that Malone’s state has been unstoppable after a difficult 4:3 victory over the German star Ocharov in the semifinals. He has always been shy and even said "Ochha can't win me" after the game, confidently. This can be seen.
On the evening of July 30, the men's singles final of the Tokyo Olympic Games ushered in the "civil war" of Chinese players.
In the end, Malone defeated Fan Zhendong 4:2 and successfully defended his title.
This is the 19th gold medal of the Chinese delegation in this Olympic Games.
The picture shows Ma Long and Fan Zhendong raising the national flag to salute after the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
Before the final, Malone took a shot as usual before stepping onto the arena. After playing, he did not seem to be affected by injuries.
In the opening stage, Malone quickly entered the state and took the lead with 7:0, while Fan Zhendong was a little dazed by Malone for a while. The experience gap between the two was obvious.
On the evening of July 30, the men's singles final of the Tokyo Olympic Games ushered in the "civil war" of Chinese players.
In the end, Malone defeated Fan Zhendong 4:2 and successfully defended his title.
This is the 19th gold medal of the Chinese delegation in this Olympic Games.
The picture shows Fan Zhendong in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
Although Fan Zhendong had recovered two rounds, Malone always firmly controlled the initiative on the field, especially his backhand side cut, which made Fan Zhendong extremely difficult to play.
In the crucial sixth game, Malone, who was in the lead, played more and more easily. The combination of in-stage challenge and play was quite agile. Compared with Fan Zhendong’s eagerness to win, Malone’s use of skills and tactics is undoubtedly more reasonable. The expression is as calm as ever.
In the end, with Fan Zhendong pulling the ball off the net, the score was fixed at 4:2, and Malone also won his 25th world championship trophy as he wished.
"It's like a dream." When he walked off the field, Malone repeated the gesture of "coming hearts" to win the Rio Olympics.
He said with emotion that the past five years have not been easy, especially in the case of the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Only by overcoming more difficulties than before can we finally stand on the stage of the Tokyo Olympics.
Malone said frankly that there was no "secret" in the course of the game. Instead, the record of the match in recent years was at a disadvantage to help him relieve the pressure in time. "For myself, I don't have too much baggage. Good condition is fine." In Malone's view, unlike the previous four "twisting" games, this game has no reservations.
"When the strength is similar, it depends on who plays better on the spot and has a more stable mentality."
On the evening of July 30, the men's singles final of the Tokyo Olympic Games ushered in the "civil war" of Chinese players.
In the end, Malone defeated Fan Zhendong 4:2 and successfully defended his title.
This is the 19th gold medal of the Chinese delegation in this Olympic Games.
The picture shows Malone comparing his heart after the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
In more than two months, Ma Long will be 33 years old. At this time, holding 25 world championships, he has actually become the first person in table tennis history.
However, he didn't seem to want to stop there.
"Do you want to continue your own era?" Facing this question, Malone answered without hesitation: "I haven't thought about it yet." But he immediately added: "The next goal is the Tokyo Olympic men's team competition. I hope to compete with The teammates worked together to help the Chinese team get this gold medal." (End)