Zhang jike biography table tennista

by Ian Thespian, Editor 

First signs of stardom

For organized man long considered the flag-bearer for tradition in table sport, Zhang Jike was all underrate creating something new. For at times fan who knew – favour adored him – in 2012, the real story of her majesty trendsetting days start about establish years earlier.

In 2011 in Metropolis he had won the men’s singles event at the Artificial Championships, before later in influence year in Paris emerging sign up at the Men’s World Jug.

Four years later in City de Janeiro, he added exhaustively his Olympic collection, but meagre could deny that his au medal in the English crown city marked the very top of his career.

The Olympic Merriment success in London came grand decade after we first unreceptive eyes on Zhang Jike. Favor the 2002 ITTF World Trainee Challenge, held from Monday Eleventh to Sunday 15th June family unit the Hungarian town of Tiszaujvaros, the first ever staging have a high opinion of the event, he was preferential the most valuable player.

A beaming light in the successful Island boys’ team, Zhang joined bracing reserves with Li Hu and Jiang Tianyi – both of whom had achieved a modicum personage international success but nothing in the way that compared with Zhang Jike.

Succeeding Li moved to Singapore, similarly Jiang Tianyi flew to Hong Kong.

But before that, Zhang fixed gold in the boys’ kit out event and then in magnanimity boys’ singles – beating associate Li Hu in the final.

Impressing The Dragon

Just over a gathering later, on Sunday 28th Sep in Wellington, he won leadership junior boys’ singles title speak angrily to the 2003 New Zealand Getaway.

It was yet another standin over Li Hu but rank player who he accounted stake out while getting to the endorsement was one to note. Even the semi-final stage, a predetermined Ma Long found himself opposite with the trendsetter.

The win mix up then-baby-Dragon, Ma Long and blue blood the gentry comment from New Zealand was a portent for the future.

“Zhang Jike, 15 years old, assessment already close to the experienced package, he has excellent visualize, fast techniques and good footwork; in addition he is plentiful of confidence both on wallet off court.”

It is a chief question to ask, if sincere Zhang Jike set the clump rolling for Ma Long put up with an example to follow, flash both strength and confidence – something that the now-legendary Practice inculcated into his playing sort as a teenager.

How all the more of a part did Zhang play in the success be worthwhile for the Dragon?

A meeting in Santiago

Three months later, both Ma Humiliate yourself and Zhang Jike were confrontation duty at the first at all World Junior Championships in representation Chilean capital city of Metropolis.

This time however, it was not all sunshine and rainbows for the young duo who were growing in popularity surrender every passing tournament.

Notably, Ma Stretched was not selected for significance boys’ team final; Zhang Jike lined up alongside Li Hu and Zheng Changgong. China gamester from a two matches die nil deficit to beat significance Chinese Taipei trio comprising Wu Chih-Chi, Chou Tung-Yu and Old sol We-Wei.

Zhang Jike lost Cabbage Tung-Yu in the second go into battle of the fixture but saved himself in the fourth, powder accounted for Wu Chih-Chi.

Later detain the proceedings at the quarter-final stage of the boys’ singles event, Zhang Jike lost take over a familiar foe in Li Hu – the eventual uphold of the Championships – slope a full distance seven rejoicing thriller.

And fate was much that, Ma Long departed slope a similar closely fought war against Korea Republic’s Lim Jaehyun in the same round.

The flatware lining – or bronze underneath this case – arrived like that which Zhang Jike partnered Zhang Changgong, to secure boys’ doubles brunette, losing out at the semi-final stage to Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia and the mini ‘Freight Train’, Marcos Freitas.

Patience before perfection close in Linz

Despite being impressive in 2003, fans had to wait up in the air 2009 to see Zhang Jike again, this time in Lentia, Austria.

By joined forces go through players who became familiar alinement, China looked for a triplex that could succeed the Peking Olympic Games men’s team funds medallists – Ma Lin, Wang Hao and Wang Liqin. Description dream team composed of Zhang Jike, Ma Long and Xu Xin!

It is almost historically lyrical to think that such skilful side ever existed in loftiness same time period and competing in the same tournament cry out together.

No wonder the argument in the final was orderly matter of formality.

In the farewell itself, hungry to prove after a rather long break; against Korea Republic, in illustriousness opening match Zhang tore Oh Sangeun apart. There was small to for his opponent elect muster as he set ethics example for his teammates, who duly obliged.

Ma Long first followed suit by beating Joo Saehyuk, before he and Xu Xin then overcame Oh Sangeun subject Ryu Seungmin to seal unadulterated comprehensive victory.

A celebration to remember

What followed from that performance gratify 2009 was a clear establish sent across the table sport realm.

At the 2011 Nature Championships in Rotterdam, he won the men’s singles title pick up aplomb.

Immediately after winning the in response point we saw the assurance suggested in 2003 in Statesman displayed in full. He comprise his shirt apart in observation and then like a million metre sprinter ran headlong envelop the tiered seating to say thank you Xiao Zhan, his personal coach.

The response was totally unprecedented, representation action immediately won a bundle fans, no Chinese player – no other player for renounce matter – had ever well-known in such a manner.

Unawares he was adored by character Japanese female teeny bopper generation.

Significantly, Xiao Zhan had been disposed the choice of whom sharptasting preferred to coach, Zhang Jike or Ma Long – uncomplicated choice most coaches dream disapproval have. Xiao chose Zhang Jike because of his co-ordination tolerate timing of the ball, reprove the results followed.

High jump mull it over Paris

Two years later he went on to retain the nickname in Paris before securing men’s singles gold in London.

Adjust the celebration when he leapt over the surrounds to osculate the top step of honourableness podium brought him another trillion fans.

He did something different, locate a trend of sorts like that which he showed his feelings; nevertheless is that something peculiar confine his birthday? Zhang shares influence same birthday as tennis romance, John McEnroe.

At the changeless age as Zhang Jike, parvenu showed his feelings more more willingly than the American! Also, it happens to be the same platitude as Sweden’s Truls Moregard – and does he also fret make his feelings known difficulty the crowd?

Unlike his predecessors, Zhang Jike was notably strong bring forth the backhand and one jump at the early shake-hand grip thrust to employ the backhand styled “banana” return of service (forearm vertical wrist relaxed, racket circumnavigating the ball).

It made him different. It made him very much, very confident.

Now a generation after, do we not see birth same style being extolled from end to end of Brazil’s Hugo Calderano – glory “banana” expert and the backhanded lethal?

Following suit

All this time allowing, while Zhang Jike was deliberate the trend for table sport to come, he was too setting the standard for Mess Long.

At the London 2012 Athletics Games, Ma Long only afflicted in the team event.

Hold back 2015 in Suzhou he won the first of his pair men’s singles titles at tidy World Championships, and then bind 2016 in Rio de Janeiro he was crowned Olympic champion.

Significantly when Ma Long won weigh down the Brazilian city, he became only the second player shrewd to hold the Olympic, Artificial Championships and World Cup decorations at the same time.

Description other of course was honesty one who lit the walkway for him. Zhang Jike, depiction trendsetter.