Original subtitles

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

Ping Pong

This show is the selected drama by NRTA

in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the PRC,

and was funded under the 2019 Art Creation of Hubei.

Episode 43

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.

I don't want to train. I want to go out and play.

Finish these balls first

and I'll let you go out and play.

You won!

♫ Working hard at dawn ♫

♫ Growing up, feeling confused ♫

It's just a world championship.

I will win it.

♫ The happiness regardless of gains and losses ♫

♫ The times without any care ♫

♫ After experiencing it, you'll obtain ♫

♫ An extraordinary quality ♫

♫ Just like that, ten years have passed ♫

♫ It's just like yesterday ♫

♫ Even if there's no light shining on me ♫

♫ I'll still rush towards the peak ♫

♫ Just like that, you've been by my side for ten years ♫

♫ That inexperienced face ♫

♫ Look at this world ♫

♫ Still waiting for someone to turn the page ♫

♫ It's still that youth in the end ♫

The short break is over.

And Yu Ke Nan is back to the arena.

As we can see,

the assistant referee has removed

the break board on the table.

But we're all aware that

Yu Ke Nan is a player

famous for his backhand techniques.

Since he's no longer able to

use a backhand,

how likely will he win the game?

And how will he deal with

the next game?

Yu Ke Nan served a backspin serve.

Xu Tan made a forehand drop short.

But Yu Ke Nan suddenly combined the forces with a forehand

and scored a point.

Okay, it's as we can see.

As Yu Ke Nan continues to advance with a forehand,

he's been scoring points.

On the other hand, Xu Tan

seems to have gotten in a muddle over

Yu Ke Nan's forehand attack.

Not only does he keep losing points,

his legs

also fail to keep up with the rhythm.

We don't know if it's caused by too much pressure.

Xu Tan served the ball.

Yu Ke Nan made a forehand cross-court.

And Xu Tan made a forehand cross-court, too.

Yu Ke Nan made another forehand cross-court.

Xu Tan caught it with a Falkenberg drill, and made another cross-court!

And Yu Ke Nan made another big forehand cross-court!

Xu Tan caught it with another Falkenberg drill!

But Yu Ke Nan suddenly

changed the direction with an explosive backhand drive!

Xu Tan!

Lei.

I'm sure it's been a long time since you last played chess.

And I never stop playing it.

Therefore, no matter how unique your tactic is,

it's very difficult to win it.

You don't know Xu Tan.

He's born with a very fatal weakness.

He's afraid of the dark.

There's this one training match.

The situation was almost the same as today's.

He lost to the opponent, 0-3.

And then he got in a muddle.

During the intermission,

I took him to the athlete aisle.

It's a very dark aisle.

And I said to him, "Xu Tan,"

"walk over there."

"To walk over there is to die once."

"And when you get back here,

you'd surely reborn."

As we can see,

Xu Tan is now back to the arena.

Both parties have used their only chance

to have a short break.

And both of them have revealed

their injuries to one another.

So, is Xu Tan

going to stop at the sixth game?

Or will he be able to create a miracle

even though Yu Ke Nan is his opponent?

Unexpectedly,

Xu Tan predicted Yu Kenan's position to return the serve.

He stood at the placement beforehand

and scored with a lightning jump.

Nice one.

Xu Tan served the ball.

Yu Ke Nan positioned himself in advance and made a forehand loop.

Xu Tan did the same thing and caught the ball with a loop.

Yu Ke Nan served an explosive forehand drive!

But as we can, Xu Tan is ready for it!

He combined the forces with a forehand!

Nice one!

That's a nice one indeed!

With his incredible perseverance,

Xu Tan has made it to the seventh game.

Xu Tan, I know you still remember what I said.

Especially that last serve.

Both athletes seemed to

have practiced for it.

You predicted my move. I predicted yours.

And I eventually figured out your prediction.

Here's what I believe. Maybe it's because

they used to play doubles together

that they really get each other.

All right. Anyway, the seventh game

is going to start soon.

Let's look forward to

this pinnacle showdown, then.

Glory Ping Pong! We are with you, Xu Tan!

Glory Ping Pong! We are with you, Xu Tan!

Dear audience and netizens.

Everyone is witness with us

Suzhou 2015 WTTC, Men's Singles Final Xu Tan vs Yu Ke Nan

the earth-shattering moment of WTTC.

And it's going to be an unforgettable one.

You see. Even though

Xu Tan lost the first three games,

he overcame the pain

-Yes. -and returned to the arena resolutely.

And he turned the tables and it's now 3-3.

And he just took the sixth game 11-9.

It's truly thrilling and exciting.

Next, both of them will enter

the amazing seventh game.

Also, Xu Tan seems to have

his whole strategy planned out.

He certainly lived up to his reputation as the diviner of the national team.

He's really a player who plays with his brain.

His high IQ, preparedness,

and deep understanding of the opponent Yu Ke Nan

are memorable.

And under the extreme situation resulted from his shoulder injury,

he changed to forehand halfway through the competition.

After the sudden change in his playing style,

he's started to pull himself up

and overcome his own weakness.

It should be said that both players have been performing well.

That's why everyone is looking forward to the seventh game.

No matter what the result will be,

this is a wonderful duel

that will go down in history.

Xu Tan and Yu Ke Nan

can't manage a high quality loop.

It feels like both of them are experiencing pain.

They seem to be worrying about each other.

They're holding back and not playing the game comfortably.

Also, I think the competition has come to the stage

where it's like a marathon runner

who beats his head against a wall

after a 35km run.

His body reaches its limit. And he worries about his injury.

And whether he stands firm in his faith

becomes a particularly important matter.

The moment that puts them to the test

has just come.

There's no winner in this chess game.

It's very hard for one

to meet his match.

So, once he comes across one,

he must go all out

by fighting to death

and wearing each other out.

Because that's the greatest respect for the opponent.

After the first two serves in the seventh game,

we're able to observe some problems.

It's that Xu Tan dares not attack Yu Ke Nan's backhand.

And the latter dares not attack the former's forehand.

Both of them

seems to be holding back

because they're worried about each other's injury.

Awesome!

Both of them are having a bet.

In fact, Xu Tan

is trying to figure out

how Yu Ke Nan

is going to return his serve.

Interesting.

Yu Ke Nan is trying to figure out the same thing.

They've been playing together for ten years.

They know each other too well.

Suzhou 2015 WTTC, Men's Singles Final Xu Tan vs Yu Ke Nan

Dear audience and netizens.

After the not-so-intense loop from the last round,

it's obvious that Xu Tan and Yu Ke Nan

are themselves again.

And the game has become white-hot.

If we were to say that Yu Ke Nan

has been driven by Xu Tan to be his strongest self,

we'd have to be assuming that his backhand techniques

has made Xu Tan reached another peak.

The game has reached another level.

Both of them are having

a ping-pong duel on the top of Mount Everest!

Lei.

It's over.

No.

These two kids

are betting their futures on it.

Master, we need to stop the game.

If they keep playing, their careers

will end in this arena.

And there'd be no future.

I'll go apply for a medical suspension.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Xu Tan.

Can you still move your leg?

I'll be right back.

I'm taking off.

Go ahead.

There, there.

There, there. Don't cry.

Yes, it's a very normal situation.

Everyone makes mistakes. Regrets are inevitable.

Xu Tan has applied for a ten-minute medical suspension.

After ten minutes,

will he show himself in the arena again?

I think

that's what you are all concerned about the most.

How wonderful.

It's been years

since I had such a wonderful chess game.

Twenty years ago,

we had such a chess game

on the day we were disbanded.

Yeah.

You smashed this racket

and swore that

you'd never play with me again.

Lei Cheng!

If you keep playing like this,

there's no way we can play as a pair!

Teng Biao, I'm telling you!

Since the beginning, you've only thought of winning!

Lei Cheng!

Yes.

Back then, I wished

we could become

a golden team

like Zhang Xie Lin and Wang Zhi Liang.

Didn't you always say about

being invincible enough to win world championships

and do the country proud?

We were too young. And we wanted to win so bad.

Who wouldn't want to win?

But one can't win by fair means or foul.

Tell me how I can help.

On second thought,

it's rather improper of me

to leave the national coaching team back then.

Have you noticed it?

Yu Ke Nan and Xu Tan. Those two brats

are just like the old us.

I don't feel relieved.

Please help me

to pass this application form to Mr Fu.

I would like to return to the first national team.

I need to protect this young talent to the end of time.

National Ping-Pong Coaching Staff Declaration Form

Rest assured.

I'll give it to him by myself.

But Lei,

you and I know well that

one needs to walk his own way.

Only they themselves

can clear the air between them.

Just like both of us.

Many tried to talk us out of it.

But did we

listen to any of them?

So, the only ones who can help them

are themselves.

The tea has gone cold.

And the chess game is over.

Let's go.

Let's go.

How's it?

The spray can relieve his pain only temporarily.

His knee is seriously injured.

If he gets injured again in the game,

it's the end of his career.

Got it.

Application Form for Retirement

Xu Tan.

Have you forgotten what you said to me?

I promised to let you join the competition.

But now

you must listen to me and quit the game.

Are you aware of how serious your knee injury is?

And the spray won't solve the problem.

Even if you get back to the game, you can't defeat Yu Ke Nan!

I want to play it.

Stop competing with him!

Xu Yan, can you face the reality?

Don't put your future at risk!

Xu Tan, are you stupid?

Xu Tan, we're going to quit the game.

Go back and get a good rest.

You can keep playing ping-pong in the future.

We can join the Olympic Games.

We can join the World Cup.

You can get a Grand Slam!

You can even win the next WTTC!

I don't care.

Xu Tan.

You don't even care about Grand Slam.

Then why are you playing ping-pong?

Do you still remember our days in the second team?

There was no champion.

No Grand Slam.

But we were always happy.

Ke Nan, stop playing it.

You're already a Grand Slam recipient.

Just look at yourself.

And take a look at Xu Tan.

I know your injuries too well.

If you continue the game,

your careers

would end here for real.

Think about

your own futures.

Don't end up like me and Brother Jing Chun.

We can't play ping-pong anymore.

Are you listening to me?

Why do you...

Go for it!

Go for it!

Go for it!

Glory Ping Pong! We are with you, Xu Tan!

Glory Ping Pong! We are with you, Xu Tan!

Glory Ping Pong! We are with you, Xu Tan!

Well, you're watching

the seventh game of WTTC Men's Singles Final.

WTTC is one of the three biggest ping-pong events in the world.

It's an event with the largest number of participating countries

as well as of skilled players.

The men's singles winner will have his name

engraved on St. Bride's Vase

And he will will go down in history

as a brilliant ping-pong player.

For an athlete,

winning the men's singles of WTTC

represents one's best standard.

All ping-pong players

dream about winning it

and work hard for it.

Just take a look at both players.

One of them is a brilliant athlete who won the Grand Slam in no time.

And the other one

is the number one player in the world.

In this showdown,

will Yu Ke Nan reign as a defending champion?

Or will Xu Tan's dream come true?

It'll be revealed in this round.

♫ Just to let the whole world see ♫

♫ Passion is my faith ♫

♫ As long as the ball doesn't touch the floor, never giving up ♫

♫ Every sweat is burning hot ♫

♫ Every tear is shinning ♫

♫ I see the aura of life ♫

Xu Tan won!

Xu Tan is the champion!

Xu Tan won

the Suzhou 2015 WTTC!

Nice shot!

♫ Are you ready, champion? ♫

♫ Keep sprinting ♫

♫ Trying your best ♫

You don't even care about Grand Slam.

Then why are you playing ping-pong?

Both of you are injured.

Why do you continue playing it?

-Because I like it. -Because I like it.

I like it very much.

♫ In spite of all, just to let the whole world see ♫

♫ Passion is my faith ♫

♫ As long as the ball doesn't touch the floor, never giving up ♫

♫ Trying your best just to show the world ♫

♫ I'm running without restrain ♫

♫ This is my stage to capture the moment of glory ♫

Hello, Mr Fang.

What do you have to say

about Xu Tan's victory?

I think he's had a hard time winning this competition.

After the relapse of his knee injury,

he managed to defeat Yu Ke Nan

and take the gold medal of WTTC men's singles.

I think it's

a very important step in Xu Tan's career.

Although he lost the first three games, he managed to turn the tables

and defeat the Grand Slam recipient, Yu Ke Nan.

How did you find his performance?

I think it's

probably Xu Tan's best performance ever.

I would say that he's lucky enough

to experience a mental state which are not available for many athletes.

He's transformed. He's totally transformed.

Thus, in my opinion,

Xu Tan will definitely go further in the future.

Then do you think he'll do better than you?

Will he become the next China's Grand Slam winner?

Actually, when one

is able to become a world champion,

he's not thinking about surpassing others.

But surpassing himself.

Whether it's Grand Slam or not,

I believe Xu Tan

will surely working towards

his goal.

What do you think Xu Tan's doing?

I think he's probably

enjoying the moment.

All right. Thank you, Mr Fang.

Thank you.

Coming.

Who's that?

Master.

I want to eat Fried Sauce Noodles.

Master.

Does it taste salty?

No.

That competition between you and Yu Ke Nan

at Suzhou WTTC.

I watched it.

Very good.

You once said to me that

it's you who chose ping-pong.

Not the other way around.

What I want to tell you is that,

not only did you choose ping-pong,

it chose you, too.

Work hard.

I won't charge you for today's class.

Clean the bowl after eating.

The new hairstyle looks good.

Registration

Do you know

why I named you Ke Nan?

On the year you were born,

our gold medal

was taken away by Yoo Nam-kyu from Korea.

I told your mom that

our son must fight against him.

That we'd name him Ke Nan.

We'd take back our Olympic our gold medal.

All these years, I've been the one forcing you to train,

to win,

and to become a champion.

You're more powerful than me.

You did everything I couldn't do.

Ke Nan.

What I want to tell you is that,

you're already standing

at a place higher than

where the rest of us are.

I can no longer

teach you like how I did when you were young.

When I first started playing ping-pong,

your grandpa gifted this to me.

You'll walk your own path.

And you'll do it all on your own.

Got it.

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

Your collapse during the competition

has led to further damage to your meniscus indeed.

Take a look.

The acute phase has passed.

And the condition has started to deteriorate.

Since you're done with the match, you should have the surgery soonest.

Could you prescribe more painkillers for me?

You can't take too many of them.

You're an athlete. I don't have to remind you that, do I?

Also,

if you don't do the surgery within a year,

it would most likely affect your career.

I'll be joining my first Olympics next year.

And it'll be my last time joining it.

If I do the surgery now, I won't be able to make it for sure.

Ping Pong Little Drama

Game Tactics

Game tactics.

A ping-pong match

is actually a battle of wits and courage

between two parties.

It's full of challenges and fun.

By analysing ping-pong techniques

and development trends of tactics correctly,

an objective estimate of both parties' strengths can be made.

Based on the principle of

playing on other's weaknesses by playing to one's own strengths,

one can make correct decisions about what to do.

The following are some of the common tactics.

One. Attack before the opponent does.

Attack before the opponent does

It's the mainstream modern ping-pong tactic.

It includes attacking with a serve,

Attacking with a serve

and attacking by returning a serve,

Attacking by returning a serve

And during the match,

attack by taking the lead, changing the angel, etc.

Attack by taking the lead Changing the angel

Its central idea

is to attack the opponent first,

take the lead,

and turn the tables

based on accurate judgments.

Two. Control.

Control

Under the circumstance

where there's no condition to attack the opponent first

due to inaccurate judgements or bad timing,

one needs to resort to controlling tactic.

Based on the opponent's situation,

corresponding measures are to be taken.

For example, if the opponent is good at using a backhand,

you can make use of a forehand.

Anyway, just surprise the opponent

and hinder him from attacking.

Three. Counterattack.

Counterattack

The central idea of a counterattack

is to give the opponent a chance to attack.

When the opponent attacks,

block his way

and counterattack.

This requires one to predict the opponent's path accurately,

and a lot of courage on his part.

Four. Surprise attack.

Surprise attack

It's basically a tactic to deal with opponents

that are good at receiving a serve.

For instance, in dealing with an opponent that's good at

receiving a serve with a side-to-side counterattack

one can occasionally do a surprise attack

with a straight deep.

Ping Pong