tabletennisJunkie.com - table tennis and ping pong forum for equipment junkies!

[729 fx]

Read from another forum that Grace Lin TTC #1 has a strong team consisting of Li Hu and Zhu Wentao, who were also former China National Team players. They are all on the same level as MyTableTennis Elite team.

To my understanding (I could be wrong), at the tournament, the Chinese National Team(some former National player, some provincial players etc) has around 30 players on it representing various teams. These players, I think, are considering migrating to US or other countries and was engaged by the respective clubs to play for them. Then there is a possibility of an A team and B team from the Chinese National team and based on this I presumed the MyTT players were B team and they lost to players from Grace Lin that were former A team players that now play provincially for Hunan(I may be wrong, if so, can someone please correct me).

I'm not sure how much of that is true.

I was told the matches in the semi finals and finals were very impressive and the players displayed an extremely high amount of skill. And someone mentioned that at least 3 of the players from the two teams (Grace Lin 1 and MyTT elite) could easily be in the world top 50 if they were allowed to play internationally. How true is this, I cannot comment as I did not see how they play.

[varghese]

I have to doubt the ability of MyTT or Grace Lin players to play in the world top 50. I was told by Organizer that one of the member in the MyTT is a junior champion played in the "A" division with other Chinese top players. To cross the barrier to represent China and play in Pro Tour is very tough. However, the opportunities these Chinese players get to play in events like Joola NA Team Championships is an encouraging thing.

If Chen Weixing had played in the "German Team", we would have heard a different story. I doubt he will come to the US again. His world ranking and game is improving, so he focuses more in Europe Pro Tour Events. The Germans don't care much about winning against Chinese .

[729 fx]

Yes, I do agree that for most other Chinese top players to represent China and play in Pro Tour is very tough. They have to be coming in from the support group(C or D team) to complement the A & B team before their ability or skills are noticed and "horned: to "perfection" before they are allowed to represent China as the A team.

The opportunities these Chinese players get to play in events like Joola NA Team Championships is an encouraging thing for them as this event do exposed them to the rest of the world. And if they do not make it for China, they still have a choice to migrate to the country of their choice.

[varghese]

The ITTF axed the opportunity for the Chinese players to migrate to other countries with a new rule last year. This is good for Chinese Pro Tour Team (Wang Liqin, Ma Lin etc...) as they don't have resistance from their own people in other countries. This is bad for aspiring Chinese players because they can't represent other countries and improve their living style.

The Grace Team is sponsored by Joola. Richard who is the head of Joola had plans to bring coaches from China and establish coaching centers in different parts of the country. I have not spoken to him lately, but I think the Chinese National Players in the Grace Team might have been sponsored by him. The Indian Community Center (ICC) in California recently brought a Chinese woman player from China to train others. Looks like this has become a trend bringing in the Chinese players to the US recently.

[729 fx]

That is good for the US players as they get to train under the Chinese coaches.
For sure we will see a stronger US team in the years to come.

[varghese]

2009 NA Team Championships Videos. Thanks to Gerry Chua.

[729 fx]

Wow, good video take on the tournament.