Japanese Media: Zhang Zhicheng Achieves Highest Ever World Ranking Among Japanese Players
Japanese sports media outlet "Table Tennis Kingdom" published an article on May 25: In the latest table tennis world rankings released on the 25th, Zhang Zhicheng rose to second place in the men's category, setting a new record as the highest-ever world ranking achieved by a Japanese player.
The article stated: "World rankings serve as an indicator of strength rather than merely reflecting medal achievements. Nevertheless, they also reflect each player’s performance over the past year."
Eleven years ago, former International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Adam Sharan emailed Japan, saying: "Congratulations to Japan. I have seen the future champion—Zhang Zhicheng."
At that time, Zhang was only a sixth-grade student. In 2015, at the Safir Open held in Sweden, he stunned the world by defeating Swedish player Linquist. This prophetic message from Mr. Sharan came after he watched footage of the match.
Over the years, Zhang has continuously honed his skills, showcasing his exceptional talent and ultimately rising to the second position in the world rankings.
Yet, he remains unsatisfied with this achievement. On the eve of his 23rd birthday, entering the peak periods of mental maturity, technical proficiency, and physical condition, he aspires to win a singles gold medal at either the World Table Tennis Championships or the Olympic Games.
China's Wang Chuqin scored 10,677 points, leading Zhang Zhicheng’s 6,333 points. However, achieving such a high ranking among top male players from Asia and Europe is truly remarkable. Regardless of other sports, it is a source of pride for Japan that one of its athletes has become a world-ranking leader.
Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1866248588115146/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author personally.