[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Former World #1 Timo Boll of Germany made 2 epic comebacks this weekend at the 2017 World Cup in Liege, Belgium eliminating both Chinese players deuce in the deciding 7th game.
He came back from down 10-4 in the 7th against Lin Gaoyuan in the quarterfinals saving 7 match points before winning 13-11.
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4KV7APYUO0″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Lin has become one of the players I enjoy watching play with his electric speed while smoothly ripping from both wings. However, I have seen him lack touch on the backhand side like many Chinese players sometimes do as sometimes they are making good shots but sometimes making errors. After he was up 10-4, he made many mistakes with his backhand from banana flips to blocks to loops. It’s possible he did tighten up as he had very poor body language when Timo Boll was making his comeback. His banana flips were sub-standard. This must be painful for Lin as China needs players to be able to handle the immense pressure that there is for top table-tennis players there as it’s the national sport. In other countries, usually players are just upset at themselves after losing. In China, the whole country can be mad at you. I don’t know if this could affect Lin’s potential selections for future major tournaments such as World Championships and Olympics. At the 2017 World Championships, he had a similar big lead 10-5 in the deciding 7th game against teammate Xu Xin and lost 12-10 but that was to another Chinese player. The irony in this was Lin’s coach in this match was Liu Guozheng who saved many match points against Korea’s Kim Taek Soo in the deciding match that would have otherwise cost China the World title in 2001. Liu Guozheng became a national hero in China. China had lost the 2000 World title to a Swedish team led by Jan-Ove Waldner and almost lost again in 2001 to Korea. Here are the highlights of that epic match between Liu Guozheng and Kim Taek Soo that nearly cost China 2 World titles in a row:
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJdxzkThcKs”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]In the semis, Timo Boll made another epic comeback against current World #1, 2015 and 2017 World Champion, and 2016 double Olympic gold medalist Ma Long. Boll was down 3-1 in games and won 12-10 in the 7th. Boll opened much more strongly from both wings than I have seen him in the past where he is usually just soft spinning the first ball. He also tried to stay closer to the table and hold his ground better against Ma Long. Here are highlights from that match:
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME8RmMljy0E”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]In the final, it was teammate Dimitrij Ovtcharov that defeated Timo Boll to win his first World Cup title. Ovtcharov said Timo Boll looked tired in the final but he was maybe just being modest as Timo Boll was playing unbelievable to knock out both Chinese players. Ovtcharov also defeated Boll in the 2017 China Open final when the controversy happened with Chinese players not showing up for their matches. Here are highlights of their final:
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mfQ8TT0fqo”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/2″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
