The games were a lot tougher than the overall 3-0 game score. ITTF highlight 4 minute video and article attached.
It’s January and time for every one to get back into shape and start playing. We still have Saturday afternoon social games & practice at MTTC.
China Men beat China Taipei in semi final to face Austria (whom they had beaten 3-0 in group) and won 3-0 in the Men’s Team Final. Fan Zhendong 樊振东 is a critical addition to the team this year. 男队名单为张继科、马龙、许昕、樊振东和方博.
Up and coming youngster 方博 played once during the group competition stage.
Austria beat Portugal (who beat Japan in QF) in the other Semi Final to become the first European team since 2007 in the this Championship since returning to international calendar.
Germany (w/o 2 top players, out of final 8) , Japan (lost to Portugal in Q/F), South Korea (lost to Chinese Taipei in QF) were shut out of final four.
China Women benched world & grand slam champion 李晓霞 (injury and lack of discipline training) in favour of younger star 朱雨玲 who, on her 20th birthday, beat 冯天薇 of Singapore 3-2, in the Semi final opening game and survived a tough North Korean player 3-2 in the final. China Women won 3-0 in S/F and Final.
North Korean is the surprise Finalist after a long absence. North Korea beat strong Japan 3-0 (#2 Seed but w/o 石川佳纯& 福原爱) in the other Semi final. North Korea beat HK 3-1 in group and Hong Kong then lost to Singapore in Q/F
http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=38209&Category=General&Competition_ID=&
女队名单为李晓霞、丁宁、刘诗雯、朱雨玲和陈梦。
http://sports.sina.com.cn/z/2015ttwtc/
Look for these young Chinese players in 2016 Olympic 2016 in Rio.
Lee Ho Ching has come a big way in 2014 to be the top single player for Hong Kong. Unfortunately she is marked by Japanese & Singapore team coaches who have developed plans to let their unexpected new players beat Lee in critical matches:
In this Hungarian Women single tourney Lee precluded an all Japanese Final (3 Japanese players made the S/F) but faltered 2-4 again to the least known Japanese player.
李皓晴粉碎日本包攬女單決賽
至於被賽會列為女單3號種子的港隊新星李皓晴，在此站賽事也有出色表現，她在女單賽事次圈便遇上日本球手加藤美優，並直落四局以12-10,11-8,11-8,11-9擯走對手，之後擊退新加坡及葡國球手而晉身四強，並成為日本包辦三甲的最後障礙；皆因若宮三紗子、石垣优香及平野早矢香等三名日將都進佔四強席位。
今晨上演的女單四強戰，李皓晴以4﹕2（ 11-8,11-13,11-5,10-12,11-6,11-6）擊敗次種子平野早矢香，粉碎了日本包辦決賽席位的希望！決賽於下午四時展開，李皓晴與若宮三紗子激戰六局後，最終以2﹕4(10-12,9-11,11-8,8-11,12-10,14-16)飲恨，無緣金牌！但亦為港隊貢獻一枚銀牌。
團體世界盃八強賽激戰三小時 港女隊鬥新加坡2﹕3惜敗
關鍵性的第五局，港隊由李皓晴壓軸，新加坡則以李思韻迎戰，雖然後者在首兩局以11-9,11-8勝出，但李皓晴連追兩局11﹕8收復失地, 可惜在決定性的第五局，「皓晴」以8﹕11力戰而敗，港隊最終以二比三飲恨，未能更上層樓。
As amateur players, we need to practice against different types of players in order to make different adjustments in a game situation that matters. Margin of errors in a tight game can be made to minimum.