Recent Updates

Oct 31, 2025: Spent my long flight reading The Club (plus sitting thru that ground-stop mess thanks to the East Coast storm. 😑 I know zero about soccer, but the book is basically bts tea on how the English soccer’s Premier League became a global entertainment monster. Media deals, power moves, ambitious owners studying business in the US and flipping the chill local sport into a multi-billion industry. And ofc my brain jumped straight to table tennis. (Btw, how come nobody’s done a book like this on table tennis yet?)

After US Smash, I have thoughts about table tennis and its business model vs tennis and Big Four. If I keep it simple: authoritarian vibes everywhere. Not a fun fan community or a normal sport business. It felt more like a power-centered system where keeping fans in line and squeezing them came first. Even the pricing and event mgmt felt like WTT trying to act big without knowing its lane. 🫷Kinda joked to compare itself to tennis, MLB and NBA, even if IMG grabbed media rights this year.

Been chatting with some friends about the bigger business picture in table tennis too. Maybe we’ll spill more someday (and maybe I can make my critiques sound less savage… maybe lolll).

Oct 30, 2025: It’s a wrap for my 3-wk shoot trip in Boston and LA. As mentioned, I tried to drop a quick lil take on TT conditioning but somehow the “quick notes” always turn into essays. My bad fr.

Also had an argument with Jayden about whether CNT’s training and recovery system is actually elite or kinda outdated. Based on his NCAA experience, we both agree that for a national team setup, CNT has fewer updated resources, tech, rehab tools, and sports science support than the US college system, not even to count major US leagues. But Jayden was like, “Yeah we got more toys and bigger buildings, but China got specialists dialed in for certain sports.” Meanwhile I’m still side-eyeing CNT tbh. Some coaches and staff give sleepy, stuck-in-their-era vibes. Just too comfortable in their power, not enough curiosity to evolve. Anyway, we’ll fight again when I’m back in the city. 🙄💪

Btw, any baseball or hockey ppl here? Dodgers vs Blue Jays was insaneeee on Monday. Our Yankees was just… yeah nah not talk about Mets either. NHL season just dropped tho and I’m so ready for my Rangers. So when is WTT gonna pull up to North America (east coast!) instead of camping in Asia forever? Actually, forget WTT. We just need a little lion here, simple as that.

Oct 15, 2025: Congrats to Wang and Team China at Asian Championships! 🎉 Haven’t caught any matches lately since life’s been hectic, but huge thanks to all friends keeping me in the loop with all the updates and clips. Just came across a convo about physical drain and recovery in table tennis, thought it’s worth sharing. I’ll try to squeeze out a quick post about it soon and finish the mixed doubles piece once I’m back in town.

Oct 04, 2025: Lost for words. Such bravery. Such perseverance. Such resolve. Such lionheart. All for the team, yet thankless.

Oct 03, 2025: Exhausted. Wang, me, and you I guess. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️🙅‍♀️🙅💣🔫

Sept 21, 2025: Just found a fun way to attach video references: stitching screenshots together with the subtitles. I updated a few posts with that format. Also uploaded the documentary Blossom in Paris (Wang’s part) to YouTube.

Sept 18, 2025: Glad Wang picked up another WTT title, and I was touched when he said Chinese table tennis is still Chinese table tennis. However, I don’t really get that. As I mentioned before, I never understood why people expect someone to carry a nation’s or team’s pride on a racket, and even more, why he himself feels he is supposed to carry it. I’m touched, but I don’t agree.

I’ve wrapped up my study on the fate of left-handers in Chinese table tennis, revising and finishing it between NYFW shows. Collecting stories and details about the careers of different left-handers was a bit of a struggle, and while it will probably never feel completely done, I decided to pause here for now. 🤪

Aug 21, 2025: It’s exhausting to hear that Wang has to compete in all three events at China Smash in Oct. I still don’t understand the system that is clearly biased against left-handed players.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone’s interested in sharing their thoughts and analysis here as a guest post, on whatever topic you like. And also, if anyone’s up for helping translate the subtitles of my YouTube videos into other languages. Just drop me a message here. Wang’s fans only, thx.

Aug 12, 2025: Let’s congratulate Wang on hitting 100 WTT Singles wins! Check the video for his long road.

Aug 11, 2025: Not too fussed about the Yokohama Champions.

Losing in the final isn’t a big deal for me (or for Wang) since it’s the lowest-level event Wang plays, and the ranking points don’t really matter for him right now. Harimoto’s longtime targeted tactics worked this time, apparently because Wang didn’t adjust his form well. He got fired up too early in the afternoon semifinal and didn’t get enough rest physically and mentally, which led to unnecessary errors later. Plus, he’s under huge pressure as the only men’s squad survivor in the CNT. As I’ve said before, I wasn’t expecting much from his recent matches anyway. Everyone needs time to rest, think, test limits, and recharge, and US Smash was already a surprise gift for meeeeeee!!! Lolll. Btw, a WTT medical time-out is max 5 mins by the book. 🤷‍♀️

Aug 11, 2025: Translation of an analysis article published in World Table Tennis Japan, July 2025 Issue: The Super Techniques of China’s New Emperor, Wang Chuqin

Aug 04, 2025: Finally got around to recapping my US Smash trip. I moved back to Hampton Bays with my family for the summer, got buried in errands, and beach life totally took over 😅

July 15, 2025: I’m back, I’m back! What a unique experience it was to watch so many table tennis matches in Vegas. And what a cute guy and an awesome player Wang Chuqin is! The vibe in a table tennis arena is totally different from hockey or baseball. Not even sure how to start sharing everything… but let me get some rest first.

July 07, 2025: Heading to Vegas now, just one day after getting back from Atlanta. I’ve heard all the horror stories: the brutal July heat, that sketchy temporary setup next to the arena, those awful tables being used at US Smash, and Wang already rocking KT tape on his legs before the match even started… Well, well… Good luck, buddy!

July 01, 2025: The TTR System: A Fresh Chapter for Table Tennis Officiating

June 10, 2025: 🔥 26-minute Interview Wang Chuqin: The Road to Growth (fixed). Nothing needs to be said. Just watch. (With transcripts.)

I personally don’t buy all that glorifying-the-struggle stuff, but if Wang believes that “once you finally achieve something that matters, it feels like the struggle paid off,” I respect that.

June 4, 2025: My WTTC review’s up! Check it out here: Calm After the Climb, 2025 WTTC Doha

May 26, 2025: Uploaded two clips with translations from Wang’s post-final interview: Wang Chuqin on WTTC Final Win vs Hugo Calderano: “I Treated It Like a Regular Game” & Making History as Left-Handed Champion, Wang Chuqin Reflects on 2025 WTTC Journey – YouTube

Kinda glad the WTTC final happened over the long weekend, so Jayden and I actually had time to recover from the insomnia and celebrate in our own little way. We had brunch at a Brazilian spot yesterday, just right after the final, and Chinese BBQ late at night. Lollll. Jayden was a little bummed because he was hoping Liang Jingkun would make the final against Wang. He likes Liang but is more into the Wang-Liang doubles pair. 🤣

May 25, 2025: Let’s gooo! WTTC Men’s Singles champ!! The only lefty in this century! What a legend, Wang Chuqin! 🔥🙌

May 19, 2025: ITTF, YOU’RE A JOKE!!!!

Dropped a video of the rubber-damaged drama at WTTC Doha on YouTube, including Wang’s post-match interview and a replay of the incident. I’ll share the updates on the racket incident here: Racket, Damaged. Again.

May 16, 2025: Have dropped the post: How Seamless Balls Broke the Game’s Rhythm. You know why I treated today like a deadline. 😆 The most challenging part was digging through lab tests and essays in multiple languages. Thanks to Kenneth for sharing and helping me lock in a few points.

May 6. 2025: Just wrapped up a filming project in Philly and finally back in the city. Yesterday, I had a great chat with a TT amateur from Singapore who shared a bunch of insights about equipment, including the seamless ball. The whole convo kicked off with the Paris racket incident, ofc. 🔫 I haven’t forgotten about writing something on the seamless ball, but for some reason, the draft keeps growing longer and longer. No idea why, lol.

Apr 24, 2025: Just uploaded a video of the match point moment from the quarterfinal, featuring commentary in different languages. The French commentary of RMC Sport is a must-watch! Match Point Madness: Wang Chuqin vs Benedikt Duda | 2025 World Cup Macao – YouTube

Apr 20, 2025: Wrapped up my thoughts on Wang’s World Cup run: Chuqin’s 2025 World Cup: A Fight, Not a Fall

Apr 12, 2025: I’ve been buried in filming work lately and haven’t had the chance to explore Wang’s past matches as planned. But now and then, when I need a mental reset or a creative spark, I still pick up the stories and clips about Wang and Team China.

Upcoming Plans
(No set deadlines since this is all between my actual workload.)

• Collect Wang’s interviews from 2017 to 2024

• 📝 Start a series on Wang’s career before Paris, focusing on key matches and moments:
  • Tokyo Olympics player selection (when Wang was an alternate player)
  • 2022 Chengdu World Team Championships
  • 2022 WTT Final Cup in Xinxiang
  • 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games
  • And whatever else feels vital along the way

• Eventually, wrap up the Top Games series

• Dig into what mixed doubles has meant for Wang, and how he’s handled competing in all three events for years

• Discuss the perspective of left-handed players and expand on the Systemic Favoritism section from Wang Chuqin and the Mystery of CNT’s Coaching System Neglect

Got other ideas? I’m all ears. Challenge me. 🤩