On December 3, Beijing time, in the third game of the 2024 Mixed Team World Cup group stage, the Chinese team defeated the United States 8-1 and won three consecutive group victories. The Chinese team plays with all its main players, and it is natural that it has a huge advantage

On December 3, Beijing time, in the third game of the 2024 Mixed Team World Cup group stage, the Chinese team defeated the United States 8-1 and won three consecutive group victories. The Chinese team played with all its main players, so it is natural that it has a huge advantage over its group opponents. Today Lin Shidong men's singles lost 1 game, which is equivalent to losing 1 point according to the rules of the competition system. This is the first point lost by the Chinese team in the group stage. Gao Jun was already grinning from ear to ear. Why did this incredible wealth fall on the American team?

First of all, we must objectively look at the huge gap in strength between strong and weak teams such as the Mixed Team World Cup. This table tennis event has been somewhat imitating the badminton Sudirman Cup since it was held. Everyone is familiar with the Sudirman Cup. For a super strong team like the Chinese team, no matter who they play against in the group stage, they are always cutting off melons and vegetables. The rhythm of the Sudirman Cup is that the further you go, the stronger your opponent becomes and the easier it is to upset you.

The Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup is currently in its infancy. This year is only its second year, and most of the opponents' masters have not come. This objectively created a situation where the Chinese team was able to fight mosquitoes in the group stage. We are the host and we have to use all the main players. If we use all the main players, it would not look good if we go 8-0 in every game.

Lin Shidong is ranked second in the world in men's singles at the age of 19, and Naresh is ranked 180th in the world in men's singles at the age of 20. The strength gap between the two is indeed relatively large. Why did Lin Shidong lose 9-11 in the first game? The fundamental reason for this may still have to be asked by Lin Shidong himself. As the absolute main force of the national table tennis team, such a situation will not occur when playing against such an opponent. In the third game, Lin Shidong hit a wave of 8-0. This is his true strength.

As a new table tennis world competition, the Mixed Team World Cup definitely has many shortcomings and areas worth improving. In the first session last year, the main players of the Japanese team said they did not want to come because they did not have points. Later, the ITTF temporarily added some points, and the main players of the Japanese team reluctantly came. This year, not only the main players of the Japanese team did not come, but also the main players of many opponents did not come.

Under the current conditions, international points and competition bonuses should be the two major batons for mobilizing players from various associations to participate. In terms of prize money, event organizers are not super rich enough to squander it casually. Everyone still needs to be careful with their funds for organizing events. The international points are decided by ITTF senior management. The goal of the Mixed Team World Cup is to build the Suzhou Cup of table tennis. If the points are not given enough, it will be difficult to increase everyone's enthusiasm for participating. This requires the event organizer and the China Table Tennis Association to further negotiate and communicate with the ITTF.

The Chinese team has advanced to the second stage with three consecutive victories. The opponents in the second stage will be stronger, and the suspense of the game may be more than the three games in the group stage.

2024 Chengdu ITTF Mixed Team World Cup丨First Stage 1 Group
[🇨🇳China 8-1 United States

4 First set: Lin Gaoyuan/Wang Yidi 3-0 Nandan Naresh/Goodwin
[11-3, 11-7, 11-8]
Second set: Sun Yingsha 3-0 Jessica Ray Yes ray
【1 1-6, 11-2, 11-3]
third set: Lin Shidong 2-1 Sid Naresh
[9-11, 11-4, 11-2]