Are pre-teens and teens taking over the world of Table Tennis?
At the world level, you have Fan Zhendong, who started winning elite events before the age of 17. There is a new crop in China. Yu Zhiyang, Liang Jingkun, have already beaten the very best. They just need to show consistency now. Yu has won the Asian and World Juniors in addition to a World Tour (formerly Pro tour) event.
In Regional events, you see several youngsters beating seasoned players. In India, we have several players in their teens and very early twenties. So what does this all mean?
Table Tennis has become an extremely physical sports, where fitness is of prime importance. Coaches at the elite level now focus on using the whole body instead of just parts of the body. Is it time to change the rules? Definitely time to think!
At the world level, you have Fan Zhendong, who started winning elite events before the age of 17. There is a new crop in China. Yu Zhiyang, Liang Jingkun, have already beaten the very best. They just need to show consistency now. Yu has won the Asian and World Juniors in addition to a World Tour (formerly Pro tour) event.
In Regional events, you see several youngsters beating seasoned players. In India, we have several players in their teens and very early twenties. So what does this all mean?
Table Tennis has become an extremely physical sports, where fitness is of prime importance. Coaches at the elite level now focus on using the whole body instead of just parts of the body. Is it time to change the rules? Definitely time to think!
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