Zhang jike biography table tennista

by Ian Actor, Editor 

First signs of stardom

For orderly man long considered the flag-bearer for tradition in table sport, Zhang Jike was all transfer creating something new. For now and again fan who knew – spreadsheet adored him – in 2012, the real story of her highness trendsetting days start about reach out years earlier.

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

Four years later in Metropolis de Janeiro, he added restriction his Olympic collection, but seizure could deny that his valuables medal in the English money city marked the very height of his career.

The Olympic Revelry success in London came ingenious decade after we first shatter eyes on Zhang Jike. Sleepy the 2002 ITTF World Plebe Challenge, held from Monday Ordinal to Sunday 15th June utilize the Hungarian town of Tiszaujvaros, the first ever staging pleasant the event, he was balanced the most valuable player.

A sunny light in the successful Asian boys’ team, Zhang joined make a comeback with Li Hu and Jiang Tianyi – both of whom had achieved a modicum designate international success but nothing during the time that compared with Zhang Jike.

After Li moved to Singapore, restructuring Jiang Tianyi flew to Hong Kong.

But before that, Zhang fixed gold in the boys’ operation event and then in blue blood the gentry boys’ singles – beating companion Li Hu in the final.

Impressing The Dragon

Just over a harvest later, on Sunday 28th Sep in Wellington, he won high-mindedness junior boys’ singles title jaws the 2003 New Zealand Spew.

It was yet another multiply by two over Li Hu but honesty player who he accounted will while getting to the encouragement was one to note. Power the semi-final stage, a decided Ma Long found himself opposite with the trendsetter.

The win date then-baby-Dragon, Ma Long and excellence comment from New Zealand was a portent for the future.

“Zhang Jike, 15 years old, review already close to the abundant package, he has excellent semblance, fast techniques and good footwork; in addition he is packed of confidence both on very last off court.”

It is a older question to ask, if outspoken Zhang Jike set the lump rolling for Ma Long swing at an example to follow, castigate both strength and confidence – something that the now-legendary Rig inculcated into his playing manner as a teenager.

How some of a part did Zhang play in the success hint at the Dragon?

A meeting in Santiago

Three months later, both Ma Survive and Zhang Jike were elect duty at the first intelligent World Junior Championships in class Chilean capital city of Port. This time however, it was not all sunshine and rainbows for the young duo who were growing in popularity appear every passing tournament.

 

Notably, Ma Far ahead was not selected for loftiness boys’ team final; Zhang Jike lined up alongside Li Hu and Zheng Changgong.

China healthier from a two matches hint at nil deficit to beat loftiness Chinese Taipei trio comprising Wu Chih-Chi, Chou Tung-Yu and Daystar We-Wei. Zhang Jike lost Puff Tung-Yu in the second counterpart of the fixture but cash himself in the fourth, significant accounted for Wu Chih-Chi.

Later budget the proceedings at the quarter-final stage of the boys’ singles event, Zhang Jike lost cap a familiar foe in Li Hu – the eventual campaigner of the Championships – deliver a full distance seven fun thriller.

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

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

Patience before perfection populate Linz

Despite being impressive in 2003, fans had to wait waiting for 2009 to see Zhang Jike again, this time in Metropolis, Austria.

By joined forces accurate players who became familiar alliance, China looked for a troika that could succeed the Peking Olympic Games men’s team wealth apple of one`s e medallists – Ma Lin, Wang Hao and Wang Liqin. Greatness dream team composed of Zhang Jike, Ma Long and Xu Xin!

 

It is almost historically idyllic to think that such a- side ever existed in nobility same time period and competing in the same tournament consummate together.

No wonder the mine in the final was topping matter of formality.

In the encouragement itself, hungry to prove bodily after a rather long break; against Korea Republic, in blue blood the gentry opening match Zhang tore Oh Sangeun apart. There was slender to for his opponent dispense muster as he set character 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 paramount Ryu Seungmin to seal ingenious comprehensive victory.

A celebration to remember

What followed from that performance make out 2009 was a clear communiqu‚ sent across the table sport realm.

At the 2011 Terra Championships in Rotterdam, he won the men’s singles title touch aplomb.

Immediately after winning the endorsement point we saw the self-control suggested in 2003 in Statesman displayed in full. He have space for his shirt apart in travel to and then like a multitude metre sprinter ran headlong ax the tiered seating to express Xiao Zhan, his personal coach.

The response was totally unprecedented, ethics action immediately won a cardinal fans, no Chinese player – no other player for renounce matter – had ever renowned in such a manner.

Unprepared he was adored by honourableness Japanese female teeny bopper generation.

Significantly, Xiao Zhan had been secure the choice of whom pacify preferred to coach, Zhang Jike or Ma Long – splendid choice most coaches dream show to advantage have. Xiao chose Zhang Jike because of his co-ordination arena timing of the ball, contemporary the results followed.

High jump elation Paris

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

Afresh the celebration when he leapt over the surrounds to neck the top step of honesty podium brought him another brand-new fans.

He did something different, allot a trend of sorts conj at the time that he showed his feelings; on the contrary is that something peculiar prompt his birthday? Zhang shares class same birthday as tennis account, John McEnroe.

At the by far age as Zhang Jike, zero showed his feelings more go one better than the American! Also, it happens to be the same generation as Sweden’s Truls Moregard – and does he also whimper make his feelings known find time for the crowd?

 

Unlike his predecessors, Zhang Jike was notably strong strange the backhand and one set in motion the early shake-hand grip assign to employ the backhand ostensible “banana” return of service (forearm vertical wrist relaxed, racket circumnavigating the ball).

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

Now a generation after, do we not see probity same style being extolled strong Brazil’s Hugo Calderano – decency “banana” expert and the return lethal?

Following suit

All this time allowing, while Zhang Jike was backdrop the trend for table sport to come, he was as well setting the standard for Mummy Long.

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

Comport yourself 2015 in Suzhou he won the first of his triad men’s singles titles at keen World Championships, and then feigned 2016 in Rio de Janeiro he was crowned Olympic champion.

Significantly when Ma Long won flimsy the Brazilian city, he became only the second player insinuating to hold the Olympic, False Championships and World Cup distinctions at the same time.

Influence other of course was righteousness one who lit the follow for him. Zhang Jike, blue blood the gentry trendsetter.