Table tennis: Swinging the racket billions of times, achieving a grand slam

Chapter 508: Was he traumatized by Chen Jin's beating?

11: 3.

11: 6.

11: 6.

11: 2.

The score is 4-0.

The ball lands, and the score is determined.

Chen Jin put away his racket and bent down to wipe away the dust.

It was as if a peerless swordsman, after killing someone, gently blew away the blood from the tip of his sword.

There was no joy, no celebration.

His expression was as calm as a still well.

He walked towards Tomokazu Harimoto and extended his palm.

Zhang Benzhihe stood there, sweat pouring down his face, his chest heaving.

His eyelids were lowered, as if he wanted to hide his inner dejection.

He believed he had performed beyond his usual level in this semi-final.

It was even comparable to the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.

Since his disappointing performance at the Doha World Table Tennis Championships, Tomokazu Harimoto has been determined to learn from his mistakes and has devoted almost all his energy to rigorous training.

I'm the first one to get up every morning.

Every night, I'm the last to leave the training hall.

The stability of the forehand counter-loop, the explosiveness of the backhand change of direction, the smooth transition between defense and counter-attack... all these techniques have visibly improved significantly.

He embarked on his journey to the American Grand Slam with full confidence and burning fighting spirit.

All for the sake of wiping away the shame.

After overcoming numerous strong opponents such as Aruna, Togami Hayato, Lin Yun-Ju, and Lin Shih-Tung, they finally made it to the semifinals.

Even when facing Chen Jin, he showed no fear.

At least before the match began, he firmly believed: "We must win this battle!"

Only after truly fighting Chen Jin did he realize this.

All her efforts and progress were like pebbles thrown into the deep sea in front of Chen Jin, failing to even create a decent ripple.

Chen Jin's shot was as good as ever.

Their offense is like thunder and lightning, their defense like an impregnable fortress.

No matter how hard he tried or how he changed course, Chen Jinfeng easily and effortlessly neutralized his attacks.

"Is it really that difficult to beat Chen Jin even once?"

A helpless sigh spread through the deepest part of Tomokazu Harimoto's heart.

He rose to fame at a young age and repeatedly defeated the main players of the Chinese team.

Ma Long, Zhang Jike, Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin... were all his defeated opponents.

How spirited and high-spirited they were!
Before Chen Jin, there was only one person who seemed to be his destined nemesis.

Despite eight encounters, he has yet to secure a single victory.

And that person also happened to be using a penhold grip.

"Did he beat me so badly that I developed a psychological trauma?"

Zhang Benzhihe thought to himself, "The penhold grip has become my mental demon, making me always feel like I'm losing before the battle even begins when facing penhold players?"

Mind this.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

The match is over, and the outcome is decided.

No matter how much you regret or feel resentful, it's all useless emotion, and you must accept it calmly.

As a professional athlete, if you can't even accept defeat, how can you welcome victory?
Zhang Benzhihe immediately took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

His gaze refocused, and he looked at Chen Jin.

"Next month, the Yokohama Championship, that's my home turf!"

Zhang Benzhihe clenched his fist. "We'll see who's the real deal then!"

……

The hotel restaurant was brightly lit.

Wang Chuqin and Niu Guankai had just finished their late-night snack and were preparing to leave.

After Liu Dingshuo left the team, Niu Guankai took his place and became Wang Chuqin's personal sparring partner.

The two were inseparable, always together.

Besides being a sparring partner, Niu Guankai also helps Wang Chuqin with things like pushing his suitcase.

"Om-"

Mobile phone vibration.

Niu Guankai took it out and looked at it.

A sports news push with a bold headline immediately catches the eye.

Chen Jin defeats Tomokazu Harimoto 4-0 to advance to the US Grand Slam men's singles final!

Below is a detailed battle report and the editor's comments.

"Following the Doha World Table Tennis Championships, Chen Jin and Wang Chuqin will once again face off in the men's singles final!"

Will Chen Jin continue his undefeated streak, or will Wang Chuqin reclaim the championship glory?

"The decisive battle will take place tomorrow, stay tuned!"

Niu Guankai held his phone and subconsciously read the words aloud.

Although the voice wasn't loud, in the relatively quiet restaurant environment, Wang Chuqin, who was slightly ahead of him, could still hear it clearly.

"Brother, Chen Jin has made it to the finals."

Niu Guankai put his phone in his pocket. "You'll be competing against him for the championship again tomorrow."

As he spoke, he looked up at Wang Chuqin.

But then they noticed that the other person paused for a moment.

Even his back view seemed to stiffen for a moment.

Wang Chuqin neither turned around nor spoke.

Silence reigns in Las Vegas tonight.

"It really is him again..." Wang Chuqin's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and then suddenly contracted.

Deep down, he had hoped that Tomokazu Harimoto could defeat Chen Jin in the semifinals and keep him out of the finals.

In this way, the pressure on him in the final will be much less.

I'm confident I can win as long as it's not Chen Jin.

Unfortunately, reality did not favor his luck.

Chen Jin's overwhelming victory once again demonstrated his near-unbeatable dominance in men's table tennis.

Seeing that Wang Chuqin remained silent for a long time, Niu Guankai cautiously took half a step forward and tentatively called out again, "Brother?"

"what?"

Wang Chuqin seemed to wake from a dream and finally reacted.

But they still didn't turn back.

He simply replied indifferently, "I know."

Then, they didn't linger.

I took a step forward, walking at a faster pace than before, and headed into the distance.

"..."

Niu Guankai stood there, watching Wang Chuqin's retreating figure.

His silhouette seemed to carry a hint of panic, or even... fear.

"What's wrong with Brother?"

Niu Guankai was taken aback for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly. "Could it be... that he was traumatized by Chen Jin?"

In less than a year, Chen Jin and Wang Chuqin have already faced off several times.

But Wang Chuqin never won a single time.

They didn't even win a single game.

The era of Long Pang is gradually coming to an end.

According to the coaching staff's plan, Wang Chuqin should have been crowned king as a matter of course.

But now, Chen Jin has suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

They took away all the glory that originally belonged to him.

Wang Chuqin harbored both hatred and fear towards Chen Jin.

"Chen Jin..."

Niu Guankai murmured to himself, "Is he really that scary?"

……

lounge.

Chen Jin pushed open the door and entered.

Unsurprisingly, Zhang Jiahao and Xie Mingyang were already waiting.

"Brother Jin, you're awesome!"

Zhang Jiahao opened his arms and pounced on Chen Jin, ignoring Chen Jin's sweat-soaked body, and hugged him tightly. "In the last round, if you hadn't been soft-hearted, I almost shaved the notebook bald!"

"It's not that I'm soft-hearted."

Chen Jin gently broke free and shook his head, saying, "Zhang Ben did play those two balls quite well."

"Zhang Ben's forehand has indeed improved."

Zhang Jiahao didn't care and curled his lip, saying, "So what if you've improved? You still got beaten to a pulp by Brother Jin and almost cried."

"Brother Jin, in the finals tomorrow, you're up against Wang Chuqin. Remember to go all out."

Zhang Jiahao lowered his voice, worried that someone might be overheard, "Don't hold back for me."

"face?"

Xie Mingyang sneered, "Do you have that thing?"

"You surnamed Xie, how dare you make sarcastic remarks?"

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Zhang Jiahao immediately bristled and turned to glare at Xie Mingyang, "If you hadn't been so incompetent and failed to stop Wang Chuqin, Brother Jin wouldn't have had to worry about the dice's all-encompassing magic tomorrow."

Xie Mingyang: "..."

Looking at Zhang Jiahao was like looking at a fool.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Zhang Jiahao raised an eyebrow. "Hey Xie, why don't you kneel down before Brother Jin and call him your godfather so he can avenge you tomorrow!"

"I will avenge myself."

Xie Mingyang glanced at him indifferently.

He lost to Wang Chuqin because he was simply less skilled.

Regardless of victory or defeat, he would keep every match in mind and review and summarize it.

We'll gradually regain it through future training and competitions.

He neither needs nor deigns to rely on others.

"Hey!"

Zhang Jiahao glared at him, seizing the opportunity to press his point, "Hey Xie, what do you mean by that?"

"So you don't want Brother Jin to win against Wang Chuqin, right?"

"When Brother Jin suffers a setback, you'll have a chance to take revenge yourself."

That's a bit too much.

Xie Mingyang frowned, too lazy to engage in this pointless and unreasonable argument with Zhang Jiahao.

He simply turned his gaze to Chen Jin, his tone remaining calm.

"Chen Jin's victory or defeat cannot be decided by a single word from you or me here."

Xie Mingyang said slowly.

"nonsense!"

Zhang Jiahao raised his chin slightly, "How could Brother Jin possibly lose? Brother Jin will definitely win!"

Chen Jin was already used to the two bickering and didn't interrupt.

However, seeing that Zhang Jiahao's words were becoming increasingly outrageous, he finally spoke up to interrupt.

"I don't necessarily have to win."

Chen Jin paused, his voice low but carrying a heavy weight, "I just don't want to lose."

(End of this chapter)