Imagen ⒸJapan Table Tennis Federation for Players with Intellectual DisabilityBy Tokyo 2020
Japanese table tennis player Kanami Furukawa was searching for “a killer technique” that could catapult her into the world rankings’ top places when she watched Olympic champion Ding Ning’s intriguing crouching serve.
Furukawa was impressed at the Chinese’s technique and decided to use it as inspiration. With the support of her coach, she was able to master it and turned it into her signature move.
As she tosses the ball, Furukawa crouches and uses the downward velocity to hit the ball with the force of her entire body, adding a strong spin so the ball curves sharply to the left or right. This makes it difficult for the receiver to return the ball.
Asian and European investors are snatching up discounted Chinese stocks hit by a U.S. investment ban, finding bargains as giant American funds bail out and shrugging off concerns that the sanctions could hurt the companies' prospects.
International Table Tennis Federation 29 Dec 2020
In a few days, the New Year will be upon us and the sport of table tennis will see the continued growth of top female athletes.
Question is, who has a point to prove in 2021?
Lily Zhang has been impressive this year.
by Kabir Nagpal
Lily Zhang
Captain of the ITTF World Professionals team competing at the Chinese Super League, Lily Zhang has made a name for herself over the past 15 months. The American athlete has showcased top drawer performances in consecutive Women’s World Cup tournaments and also the first edition of the World Table Tennis event in Macao.
International Table Tennis Federation 12 Dec 2020
But who were the warriors who claimed victory from the jaws of defeat?
Chen Xingtong, Queen of Comebacks.
by Kabir Nagpal
Chen Xingtong vs Ding Ning
‘Special’ was a word used on several occasions whenever Chen Xingtong was at the table in Macao, and make no mistake, her match against Ding Ning was well worthy of that word being mentioned.
Playing against the reigning Olympic Games champion, Chen exhibited her speed of thought as she came back from being 0-2 down to win the match 3-2 (10-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 14-12). Ding, who chose to oppose Chen in the quarter-final draw, looked set to have doomed the eighth seed to defeat but did not foresee her compatriot’s ability – and character – to fight her way back into the contest. Forcing a decider, Chen continued to push hard and was rewarded for her bravery, earning one of the standout victories of the event so far and with it a place in the semifinals.