It's Time to Recognize that Ma Long is the Greatest Table Tennis Player of All Time

[Updated 1/5/2019] I'm never too far from controversy, but this is a topic that has come up time and time again over the past decade now. The age old battle of whether Ma Long or Jan-Ove Waldner should be considered the greatest table tennis player in history. For many years I was staunchly in Waldner's corner, but I believe the tides have changed, and there is finally plenty enough evidence to support the valid opinion that Ma Long is the king pin in the history of table tennis. Before you set your laptop on fire and never look at my blog again, remember this is a discussion topic, so please read my thoughts first and then feel free to comment with your own.

Ma Long the greatest of all time?
photo courtesy of ITTF.com

Weikert's Vision and Leadership Continues to Carry ITTF Forward Towards a Brighter Horizon

I haven't conducted any interviews in over a year, but was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to connect with ITTF President Thomas Weikert and speak more about the ITTF; where it has been since his election and where it is heading. I also took an opportunity, and I appreciate Thomas being open in his response, to address the ongoing rumors about the relationship with his predecessor Adham Sharara, the former ITTF President. Thank you Thomas and well done on all your continued progress with the global growth of table tennis.

ITTF President Thomas Weikert continues to push the
organization and world table tennis to new heights

Athlete Transformation: The 10 Day Challenge

My last post was back in May and focused on the steps I was taking to try and build better habits to be more of an athlete. Since then I have worked on a few things, though being in Las Vegas for 3 weeks was fairly disruptive to my training schedule.

I decided upon returning to take on the 10 Day Transformation Challenge from my sponsor Touchstone Essentials. I wanted to clean the slate and detox my body and also give myself some kind of idea of how to create a sustainable plan around my diet moving forward.

Taking on the Touchstone Essentials 10 Day Transformation Challenge

Athlete Transformation: Improving Health and Wellness

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder in 2013 and have struggled with periods of relapse and remission ever since, still managing to remain determined as ever to keep my head down and stay in my chosen sport. Each relapse cost me 3-4 months of time each year between 2013 and 2016 in time spent sick or recovering. These are major setbacks for a training athlete.

After falling ill again in 2016 and being forced to withdraw from the Men's National Team for the Oceania Championships (my first time making the team for that event), I knew things had to change. I researched triggers and made some dietary changes to try and stay healthier on my own, without the help of modern medicine. During that time I learnt a lot, but at the start of this year I had another severe relapse and specialists identified a likely second autoimmune disorder which was causing inflammation in my spine.

This time Touchstone Essentials were at my side to help me look at things through new eyes.

How I'm coming back healthier and smarter than before

Attacking the Half-Long Ball in Table Tennis

Perhaps one of the most under-trained elements of table tennis is how to deal with the half-long ball. Sometimes it can be a loose serve or short push, sometimes it can be a long push which is too shallow, and on some occasions it can be intentional to draw out a softer opening or a push return. This article will deal with some ways to improve how you deal with the half long ball in practice and matches.

For more than 40 other helpful articles you can visit my Coaching Blog page.

Attacking the Half-Long Ball in Table Tennis
Image courtesy of ITTFWorld

The Importance of an Assertive Mindset in Table Tennis

I was recently at a large tournament with some high intensity matches between Youth National players and made a number of observations about an area I have written on before and frequently visit whilst coaching on the bench at tournaments. I had a little time and haven't written a blog for a while so thought now would be a good opportunity to shed some light on a gamechanging subject.

For more useful articles on different aspects of table tennis, visit my Coaching Blog.

The importance of being assertive
Image courtesy of ITTFWorld

How to Defy the Odds and Make a Comeback in a Match

Well it has been quite a long time since I have added to my Coaching Blog and with a new year turning over there is no better time like the present to try and get some new help topics out there. This blog is on how to look a large score deficit in the face and fight back to win a match. We saw this on a couple of occasions in 2017 including Xu Xin's intense 7th game comeback against Lin Gaoyuan and also Timo Boll's famous comeback against Lin Gaoyuan as well, without meaning to pick on one person of course.

Timo Boll's massive comeback against Lin Gaoyuan