Ovtcharov world no.1
Table Tennis Discussion
Last updated 6 years ago
eugene lu Asked 6 years ago
Hi pingskills, It's been a very long time since my last question. I missed you guys.
After the new ranking system in January releases, ovtchatrov will become world no.1
It's a great achievement from him. He works so hard to get where he is now. And he also become the first noon Chinese to become number years!! I don't remember when is the last time a non Chinese takes the no.1 spot.
However it seems a little unfair don't you think? Ma long and fzd were in there weak form at that moment. Timo taking out ma long in the world cup to allow ovtcharov to become the champion. And bad form fzd lost to ovtcharov. Ma longs injury makes him absent on world tour events. And yesterday when at the WTGF,he lost to top form fzd. Also on his way to the final, he had to fight 7 sets to best players lower ranked then he is.
So in my opinion he just reached no.1 because of the current Chinese crisis and injury of ma long. He level is not really there. What are your thoughts?
Alois Rosario Answered 6 years ago
Hi Eugene,
I think the system will ensure the Chinese players and all players attend more tournaments. The new system encourage participation which is positive for us to be able to see them more.
I am sure that Ma Long will now go out hunting for some more tournaments. The reason he isn't number 1 is that he only played 7 tournaments. The Top 8 tournaments points you ear for the year are counted so he has missed out on points from 1 tournament due to his lack of participation.
While I think that Ma Long is still the best player in the world the fact that he hasn't played means that Dima will take the number 1 position at the start of January. In a short tie I think the system will right itself as players adapt to the new system.
What does everyone else think?
Thoughts on this question
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Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
I personally feel it may be somehow targeted at the China open boycott by Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Xu Xin. It's to discourage such behaviour? However, by only counting 8 events will breed strategising - only focusing on 8 per year, not going all out to get as many ranking points as possible, but it also allows, like what I mentioned, more concentration on the 8 events in that year.
I agree with coach Alois that "the system will right itself as players adapt to the new system", as the athletes will condition their body to the best form for each competition, but less will see themselves overcoming adversities in competition when they are not in a very good shape, as they may simply choose not to participate in that event.
@Eugene, if I didn't remember wrongly, it's either Timo Boll or Vladimir Samsonov for a non-Chinese world number 1.
I feel the main crisis of the Chinese team is the loss of their leader Liu Guoliang...
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago
Hi Benzene,
I don't think that this is aimed at the boycott. This was being planned very much ahead of this action.
If players play more than 8 events their best 8 are counted so there is always incentive to play more to better your best 8 events.
Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
I thought it's the 8 most major events? Or did I remember wrongly...
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago
It is your top 8 events.
Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
Ohhh
Rohan Keogh Posted 6 years ago
I think it will promote greater participation. Players will not rely on just 8 tournaments - if they have a bad one or two their rankings would be badly affected. They will play more, to ensure 8 good results get counted. The one area that present a new challenge for players is injury. Previously injury 'time out' had little impact on rankings but now it might if they are away from the game for an extended period (limiting their tournament opportunities). It could mean that occasionally we'll see a No1 ranked player that perhaps is not the best player. Most sports experience this same situation from time to time.
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 6 years ago
Yeah I agree Rohan.
Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
@Rohan agreed
eugene lu Posted 6 years ago
@rohan i agree too. I think the chinese only participate in bigger world tour events. Plus they would not travel to very remote countries like nigeria open. They would only participate in more renown countries like Germany, Korea, China etc. while countries like japan will almost participate in everything.
I think this rules is definitely set to stop the Chinese domination. But i don't even think it's necessary because the Chinese domination is falling apart by itself after the loss of Liu Guoliang. I don't know what the Chinese Table Tennis Association is thinking, why would they fire Liu Guoliang? He is such a good coach. Quite unwise move by them.
Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
@Eugene, it's quite complicated... The politics behind the Chinese Table tennis management. 2 people, Gou Zhengwen and Cai Zhenhua are competing for the president position for sports assocation. Kong Linghui and Liu Guoliang were on Cai Zhenhua's side. By the way, Liu Guoliang wasn't fired, but was "promoted" (the inverted commas were intentional) to Vice President, which cannot coach, mainly was Gou Zhengwen wanting to get rid of Cai Zhenhua's supporters' influence to the players and management, by firstly taking down Kong, who was accused of large gambling debt in Singapore, and later Liu.
Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5LCrC674TWE
Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
Watch that video
Benzene Chiral Posted 6 years ago
And yes, Kong's "debt" was made up... It didn't happen... He was the victim of the political turmoil..
Mike Deubig Posted 6 years ago
I believe the new ranking system will help non-Chinese players close the gap on China's dominance in table tennis. The more tournaments the top players in China play, the better the experience which will help improve some non-Chinese players especially up and coming talent. And I also like the idea of seeing the top players play more in general in these professional tournaments.