Table Tennis getting younger?

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!

Joo Se Hyuk beats World Champion Zhang Jike

Defender Joo Se Hyuk sent shock waves down the Chinese team's spine by beating Zhang Jike in straight sets in the Olympic year at the Hungarian Open Table Tennis World Tour Tournament. Just when the team was grappling with the possibility of not being able to field veterans Ma Lin and Wang Liqin at the Olympics, Jike is giving some sleepless nights to the team management.

Joo won 11-5,11-7,11-7,11-4.

Ma Lin continued his slide by losing to Xu Xin in straight sets. Ma Long survived a huge onslaught by Chen Qi and won in extra points in the decider. 
In the Quarter affected by the withdrawal of Wang Hao, Adrian Crisan of Romania made the most of it by beating Chen Weixing to advance to a rare semi-final at this level. He faces Joo, who will not let such an opportunity of reaching the finals slip by.