Deng Yaping and Jan-Ove Waldner, two greatest names in table tennis, squared off on the sideline of the Olympic Games on Monday.
In a press conference co-hosted by the International Table Tennis Federation and the International Sports Press Association (AIPS),
Deng and Waldner were asked to challenge each other, first in speech, then in a friendly match.
On both occasions, Deng held the upper hand.
Chinese Deng, now deputy mayor of the Olympic Athletes' Village, is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, while Swede Waldner is the only European who has won a table tennis Olympic gold.
Though the friendly was not played in a competitive format, Waldner made obviously more errors than Deng.
While discussing what makes a table tennis champion, Waldner said: "You need to be mentally strong, that is 50 percent of the game. Table Tennis is one of the most difficult sports to play. You must be strong all the time and you cannot have any weak point. That is why I like this game because it is very difficult."
Deng added "talent" is a very important factor too.
"I agree with Waldner that at an elite level, it is not just strength and technique, but also mental strength. But in my personal view, talent is also very important in this sport," she said. "You have to be very talented and hard working to become a world champion."
On the topic which is more important for table tennis players, the Olympic Games or the world championships, the 1992 men's singles champion Waldner said: "The difference between the Olympics and the world championships is that to win a world championship title is more difficult."
"You have to beat six to seven Chinese before making yourself a world champion. But in 1992, when I won the Olympic gold medal, it was not that difficult," he added.
Deng could not agree with him, however.
"I agree that to win the world championships you have to play against more opponents. But table tennis is one of the most popular games among the Olympic sports. We have a chance every two years to win a world championship title. But to play Olympic Games, you have to wait four years," she said.
"The Olympic Games are once in four years and that means more pressure for Olympic players. So I think it is more important to win Olympic gold medals than world championships," Deng added.
As one of the most successful table tennis players in history, Deng offered a piece of advice to the Chinese competitors in the Aug. 13-23 Olympic tournament.
"You will be under heavy pressure, but you will have more support. So the most important thing is to throw away all those things and concentrate on the matches only," said Deng.
"It all depends on self control," she added.
Comparing the role as an Olympic organizer with that of a table tennis player, Deng said: "Management is as hard as preparing to compete. When you are an athlete, you are thinking more about yourself. Now as a manager, you are thinking more about the team."
"As an athlete you have the whole team standing behind you. It is the same with the Olympic Village, only the team being bigger," she added.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)