|
|
|
Li Ching was the lightest male table tennis player in last year's Olympic Games. But his competitiveness has never been hindered by the type of build. Contrarily, he gave himself extra trainings on skills and technique, thus enhanced his actual strength in matches.
|
Li was once a real beef-lover who couldn't bear a meal without beef. But in 1997, when he was representing China to play the US open, he suddenly got an allergy to beef and was hospitalized. Since then, his physical recovery ability dropped, and he was forced to leave the national team at an athlete's golden age. During the time he left table tennis, Li studied a degree in business administration in Jinan University, he considered this an unexpected gain during the worst time of his career. Li Ching thought his career has really come to an end, having finished third in the national championship in 1999. Right at this moment, the opportunity for his career revival came. He could play for Hong Kong, and continued his dream to be a world champion.
Things were not going smooth during the first two years in Hong Kong. Li couldn't make the breakthrough he has expected. "Brother Wah (Chan Kwong Wah, coach of Men's Hong Kong Table Tennis Team) understood my problems well, he thought I didn't know how to put my skills into practice. The lack of international experiences was the main reason. I didn't got used to play European players. So my performance during that time wasn't good. I made too many mistakes during matches, and not playing my best." After Chan Kwong Wah's careful guidance, Li Ching experienced tremendous improvements. Besides the legendary success in last tear's Olympic Games, Li Ching and Ko Lai Chak beat China's Wang Li Qin and Chen Qi, and defended the Asia champion this year. In individual games, he lost only in a close final game against Wang Li Qin. Li Ching, 30 years of age, thought that skills can hardly improve with ages. He himself felt threatened by Korean players in recent years, whom excel in fast pacing too.
Since men's doubles event will be cancelled in 2008 Olympic Games (adding team competition), Li is upgrading the intensity for singles. Due to age and the old illness that hinders his physical recovery, Li has learnt to use more of his skills than physical strengths. He believes his new style of playing has room for further enhancement. Li Ching told the reporter seriously that the silver medal he won last year has transformed his life. He is now more certain to his targets, more determined to play well, and better focused on year 2008 Olympics medals.
|
|
Related Information Download
Archived Articles |
|
