Time Catches Up with Favored Style of a Bygone Era
August 19, 2010

Chiang Peng-Lung beaten by Kohei Morimoto Photo By: tabletennisphotos.com

Courtesy of ITTF Chinese Taipei’s vastly experienced Chiang Peng-Lung was the one casualty of note on the first day of action in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event at the Harmony China Open in Suzhou on Wednesday August 18, 2010. He was beaten in five games by Japan’s Kohei Morimoto; the 34 year old thus failed to qualify for the main draw, that place was taken by the rising 19 year old Japan star. It is a result that is perhaps a sign of the times.

The style of Chiang Peng-Lung is from a former era.

Speed
It is from an era when the penholder used one side of the racket only, predominantly blocked the ball from the backhand side and attacked ferociously from the forehand.

In the past 20 years the speed of table tennis has accelerated; playing in the Ryu Seung Min, Chiang Peng-Lung is now increasingly difficult and not a style favored by the modern coaches who propound pen hold grip play.

Results
The results gained by Chiang Peng-Lung on the ITTF Pro Tour endorse the theory that the style he uses is now somewhat outdated.

He has three career Men’s Singles titles to his credit; in 1999 he won in Prague at the Czech Open, in 2000 in Toulouse at the French Open and the following year in Yokohama at the Japan Open; since 2001, his best has been a quarter-final exit.

Success for Leading Names
Defeat for Chiang Peng-Lung but not for the other names; they enjoyed success.

Croatia’s Andrej Gacina, the highest world ranked player in action, emerged unscathed as did the remaining leading players.

It was a successful first day for Hungary’s Janos Jakab and Daniel Kosiba, Korea’s Kim Min Seok and Jung Young Sik, Singapore’s Yang Zi, North Korea’s Jang Song Man and Kim Hyok Bong.

Note Iran
Only Chiang Peng-Lung of the top 10 world ranked players in action experienced defeat.

The successes all came from established table tennis nations but one country rising in quality did enjoy success, Iran.

Nosshad Alamiyan upset the pecking order; he beat Russia’s Alexander Shibaev, the no.14 seed.