by sportswriters Cao Jianjie and Wang Zijiang
DOHA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The last defenders of the traditional Asian style of table tennis are no longer Asian.
France's Felix Lebrun and Germany's Qiu Dang, who play with techniques that have long been a source of pride in Chinese table tennis history, remain the only penholders of the world table tennis championships in the men's singles field.
The sport's two main grip styles are easy to distinguish. The "shakehand" grip resembles a handshake, with players using both sides of the paddle for forehand and backhand shots. The "penhold" grip, by contrast, mimics holding a pen or chopsticks and typically emphasizes forehand control and placement.
With the only penhold player on China's team already eliminated, it was sixth-seeded Lebrun who delivered commanding performances in the men's singles and doubles events.
The Frenchman single-handedly revived what many had labeled an outdated technique by earning bronze in singles at the Paris Olympics.
Qiu, seeded 10th and born in Germany to a Chinese table tennis coach, also advanced comfortably in the men's singles and doubles games.
"I have mixed feelings about a French player improving on the traditional Chinese hitting style," said Han Hua, a former France head coach who trained star penholder Wang Hao in China's team.
"Lebrun inherited the Chinese technique and has made it more effective and lethal."
Han lamented China's lack of world-class penholders and encouraged table tennis administrators to diversify playing styles.
"We have Wei Qingguang, Liu Guoliang, Ma Lin, Wang Hao, Yan Sen who used the penhold style to become Olympic champions. Is there anyone closer to that level now?" asked Han, after penholder Xue Fei became China's first casualty in Doha on Saturday.
Yoo Nam-kyu and Ryu Seung-min, both penholders, have won Olympic gold for South Korea.
When Xue lost his first round game to Japan's Hiroto Shinozuka, a handshaker, at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, Lebrun eased past Slovakia's handshaker Lubomir Pistej in straight sets.
"Xue appeared heavy on feet and didn't have effective skills to make a kill," said Han. "Lebrun is different. He is agile, powerful, and able to attack away from the table."
Han suggested China should invest in various playing styles including penhold and defensive ones.
"Chinese players are having troubles while taking on choppers or players who use pimpled rubbers that produce funny spin," he said.
"It takes more years to train a top penholder than a handshaker. If we only chase quick success, we will have to learn this Chinese style from Europe in the near future." ■
