by sportswriters Cao Jianjie and Wang Zijiang
DOHA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- While brash words and psychological tactics are common in many professional sports, "tough talk" has no place at the World Table Tennis Championships.
In a sport known for its discipline and mutual respect, players in Doha have been seen praising opponents rather than provoking them. Olympic champions are offering encouragement to rising stars, while young debutants are showing deference to seasoned veterans.
World No. 2 Wang Manyu rated Japan's teenager Miwa Harimoto as a top player.
"I put her on a higher level and saw myself as an underdog who had to fight to succeed," said the 26-year-old Chinese. "I never thought she was merely 16 years old."
"I played my best game, but it was still not enough. She was just too strong," said a teary Harimoto on her 4-0 loss to the 2021 world champion in both women's singles and doubles.
Saturday's women's singles quarterfinals pitted China against Japan on four fronts, with China winning three out of four.
"Japanese are really close to Chinese in table tennis," said Chen Xingtong after she defeated sixth-seeded Hina Hayata 4-0. "You don't have to be surprised about who beat whom."
China's world No. 1 Sun Yingsha regarded her semifinal rival Mima Ito as an equal match. "I have kept a close watch on her and she has consistently played well," said Sun.
A modest Ito said after her quarterfinal victory over Chinese Wang Yidi that she would be happy with a bronze medal she had already secured.
On Wednesday, 42-year-old Han Ying from Germany thanked Wang Manyu for bringing best table tennis out of her.
"I played the best table tennis of my life because of Wang Manyu," said Han after losing a 66-minute seven-set thriller.
"Full respect for Han Ying," said Wang. "This is a match of mentality in which I just had a longer breath."
"I just hang in there, believing I would win the game at last," she added.
France's Simon Gauzy, who forced Wang Chuqin to the edge of elimination on Thursday, said very nice words about the second-ranked Chinese, who came from 2-0 down to triumph 4-2.
"Wang was not at his best at the beginning, while I was," said the 30-year-old. "It's hard to handle his power and speed." ■
