Meet the table tennis team getting ready for Paris 2024

Meet the table tennis team getting ready for Paris 2024

2024-06-25

The Paris Olympics are almost here, and today we meet Taiwan’s table tennis team. The final lineup has just been announced, and it’s a stellar roster of seasoned veterans and new blood. Ping pong fans will be delighted to see the legendary Chuang Chih-yuan step out to his sixth and probably final Games at the age of 43. He will play in the group event alongside his sparring partner and protégé, rising star Kao Cheng-jui. Olympian Lin Yun-ju joins them, fresh from his admirable fourth place at Tokyo in 2022. In the women’s team, fan favourites Cheng Yi-ching and Chen Szu-Yu are joined by the latest Taiwanese ping pong prodigy, 22-year-old Chien Tung-chuan.

It’s time to count down to the Paris Olympics. Taiwan’s table tennis team are knuckling down at the National Sports Training Center. Sadly, it will mark the end of 43-year-old Chuang Chih-yuan’s continuous presence in the men’s singles team. He took part in the last five Olympics in a row.

Chuang Chih-yuan
Table tennis player
The first time left the deepest impression, because I was really, really nervous. After that, it was more normal, just being myself and performing as normal, trying to play in the way I want to play. It makes me very happy to be able to play at the Olympics with my protégé and for him to compete.

Although he’s not playing in the singles event this time, Chuang is part of the group team. His protégé is 19-year-old Kao Cheng-jui who makes his Olympic debut in Paris. He’ll be joined by Lin Yun-ju, ranked no. 8 in the world, to form a very strong team of seasoned legends and rising stars.

Kao Cheng-jui
Table tennis player
It’s probably the last Olympics for Chih-yuan. And for me, it’s my first time. This is probably our only opportunity to do this. With someone who you hang out with every day, you feel more calm and focused.

Lin Yun-ju
Table tennis player
Last time, in Tokyo, I think I played particularly well. I didn’t personally expect to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics. So this time I want to approach the Games with the same attitude.

On the women’s team, it’s a similar story. Veteran Olympians Cheng Yi-ching and Chen Szu-Yu are heading back to the Games in Paris, and under their wing is rising star, 22-year-old Chien Tung-chuan.

Chien Tung-chuan
Table tennis player
I just want to play well in each game, because if I set goals for myself, it just creates pressure. It makes me think about what I still need to do to reach the goal. But if I just focus on the present moment, I feel I play better.

Cheng Yi-ching
Table tennis player
This is my third Olympics, and no matter what happens, I will cherish every game as if it’s my last.

With these new faces on the team, Taiwan is heading to the Olympics with high hopes for ping pong medals.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

巴黎奧運"桌球代表隊"出爐老將.新秀連袂拚獎牌

2024-06-25

備戰2024巴黎奧運，台灣桌球代表隊的名單也正式出爐，團體賽中，老將新秀的組合，要聯手在巴黎爭奪獎牌。個人賽事方面，莊智淵無緣第六度在男單出賽，但這次有他的徒弟，才19歲的高承睿來出賽，而女子桌球隊，也有今年22歲的新面孔簡彤娟，要挑戰奧運女單獎牌。

巴黎奧運進入倒數，台灣隊的桌球國手，在國訓中心積極備戰。可惜的是，現年43歲的老將莊智淵，中斷了連續五屆在奧運男單出賽的紀錄。

[[巴黎奧運桌球國手莊智淵]]
“除了第一次印象比較深啦，因為第一次的時候確實很緊張，接下來感覺就還好，就還是要做好自己，去正常發揮，希望可以把自己要的狀態打出來。能跟自己的小朋友（高承睿），然後一起打奧運他又能參賽，我覺得對我來講我是很開心的啦。”

雖然無法在男單出賽，但在團體賽中，莊智淵將帶著自己的徒弟、今年19歲的高承睿，第一次站上奧運舞台，加上世界排名第八的林昀儒，老將新秀要聯手挑戰獎牌。

[[巴黎奧運桌球國手高承睿]]
“淵哥他應該也就是，最後一屆奧運了吧，然後自己也是第一屆參加，這樣的機會，應該也是算最後一次了吧。就是每天相處的人，然後會特別的安定。”

[[巴黎奧運桌球國手林昀儒]]
“上一次東京奧運表現還是非常好的吧，因為自己可能也沒有想到，可以進到前四名尤其是在奧運，所以說這一次我還是希望就是，跟上次一樣的心態去挑戰這個奧運。”

而在女子桌球隊，同樣也是老將新秀的組合，鄭怡靜與陳思羽，要帶著今年22歲的新面孔簡彤娟，征戰巴黎。

[[巴黎奧運桌球國手簡彤娟]]
“我就希望自己可以打好每一場，因為我的話給自己設目標，就會有點壓力，就會覺得就差多少就要拿到，但是如果我只注重當下的話，我會覺得我會發揮得比較好。”

[[巴黎奧運桌球國手鄭怡靜]]
“我覺得這是我第三次參加奧運，我覺得不管怎樣，就是把每一場比賽，都會當作自己的最後一場比賽去珍惜。”

年輕好手加入，也讓這次的台灣桌球代表隊，增添更多火花。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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