Who is the most valuable player (MVP) in table tennis of all time? Who is the most successful player in table tennis? Zhang Jike, Ma Long, Jan-Ove Waldner, Timo Boll, Xu Xin, Harimoto Tomokazu, or someone else?
Greatest players versus MVP player?
The greatest player and the MVP player are not the same. The greatest player is in general, the best player for a long period. While a most valuable player (MVP) is an honor for the best-performing player for the most important leagues, tournaments, events. The most successful player should be the “brightest star” in table tennis. So who is the most successful player?
There is already the list of the greatest table tennis player of all time. Someone claimed that Ma Long is the greatest players due to his unstoppable winning streaks. Another claimed that Jan-Ove Waldner is the greatest players in the table tennis history due to his “evergreen skill” (world class level for 30 years).
But who will be the MVP (Most valuable player) in table tennis? Or a similar question, “Who is the most successful player in table tennis?”. Until now, it is definitely Zhang Jike. Why?
Zhang Jike is still considered one of China’s greatest sports heroes. Of course, this is mainly due to his incredible achievements (look below). But he has one of the biggest tennis fans in China because of his personal expression, his role model, and his business.
In table tennis, Zhang Jike is considered the most successful player. He has everything that an athlete career dreams for.
Liu Guoliang once said,
To be a star, you must have Characters!
Unbeatable Zhang Jike’s achievements
Until now, Zhang Jike’s achievements are unbeatable. Maybe, in the near future, that is Fan Zhendong, or Harimoto Tomokazu will break the records. But look at the most prestigious Olympics Medal here.
| № | Player | Gold | Silver | Bronze | in total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China Zhang Jike | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | China Ma Lin | 3 | 3 | ||
| 3 | China Ma Long | 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | China Wang Hao | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| 5 | China Liu Guoliang | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | China Kong Linghui | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 7 | China Wang Liqin | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 8 | China Wang Tao | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 9 | South Korea Ryu Seungmin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | China Lu Lin | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 11 | Sweden Waldner Jan-Ove | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 12 | South Korea Yoo Nam Kyu | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 13 | China Chen Qi | 1 | 1 | ||
| 14 | Japan Iseki Seiko | 1 | 1 | ||
| 15 | China Xu Xin | 1 | 1 | ||
| 16 | China Yan Sen | 1 | 1 | ||
| 17 | China Chen Longcan | 1 | 1 | ||
| 18 | Germany Ovtcharov Dimitrij | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 19 | Germany Boll Timo | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 20 | France Gatien Jean-Philippe | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 21 | Japan Mizutani Jun | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 22 | South Korea Oh Sangeun | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 23 | Germany Rosskopf Jorg | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 24 | South Korea Kim Ki Taek | 1 | 1 | ||
| 25 | Germany Fetzner Steffen | 1 | 1 | ||
| 26 | South Korea Joo Saehyuk | 1 | 1 | ||
| 27 | Hong Kong Ko Lai Chak | 1 | 1 | ||
| 28 | Hong Kong Li Ching | 1 | 1 | ||
| 29 | USA Lupulesku Ilija | 1 | 1 | ||
| 30 | Croatia Primorac Zoran | 1 | 1 | ||
| 31 | Germany Suss Christian | 1 | 1 | ||
| 32 | Japan Niwa Koki | 1 | 1 | ||
| 33 | Japan Yoshimura Maharu | 1 | 1 | ||
| 34 | South Korea Kim Taeksoo | 2 | 2 | ||
| 35 | South Korea Lee Chulseung | 2 | 2 | ||
| 36 | Germany Steger Bastian | 2 | 2 | ||
| 37 | South Korea Ahn Jae Hyung | 1 | 1 | ||
| 38 | France Chila Patrick | 1 | 1 | ||
| 39 | South Korea Kang Hee Chan | 1 | 1 | ||
| 40 | Sweden Lindh Erik | 1 | 1 | ||
| 41 | China Ma Wenge | 1 | 1 | ||
| 42 | Denmark Maze Michael | 1 | 1 | ||
| 43 | Denmark Tugwell Finn | 1 | 1 | ||
| 44 | South Korea Yoon Jaeyoung | 1 | 1 |
Observations:
- Zhang Jike, Ma Long, Ma Lin all have 3 Gold Olympics Medals. But Zhang Jike also has the Silver medal.
- Wang Hao is the “King of Second place”. He has 5 medals, but 3 of them are Silvers.
- Waldner Jan-Ove is the Evergreen, but 1 Gold, 1 Silver.
- Only 44 players get an Olympics Medal in the history until now.
Zhang Jike’s equipment
Zhang Jike is the one that made Viscaria become famous, even more, famous than the Timo Boll Spirit blade. Viscaria is chosen by many professional table tennis players. The main reason is that Viscaria is the best blade for the backhand flick and quick attack over the table.
Due to its specific ALC composition, the carbon ALC layer is put very near the outer plie (Koto), which provides the stable but very fast “rebound”. The quick rebound will help the shots like the backhand flick, and fast topspin on the table. Nowadays, the backhand is the main weapon to initiate the first attack in the modern table tennis.
With Fan Zhendong, Zhang Jike is the only one in the top 4 who chooses the ALC Butterfly blade. Xu Xin, Ma Long, Fan Zhendong (DHS Handle) use the DHS and Stiga Sponsored blade. The younger Chinese players also adopted and preferred to use the ALC blade.
| Blade Equipment | Custom made Viscaria with a larger handle ([easyazon_link keywords=”Butterfly Viscaria” locale=”US” tag=”ert06-20″]Check price[/easyazon_link]) / Read reviews |
| Forehand Rubber | National Version of Hurricane 3 (2.15mm, 40 hardness degree) ([easyazon_link keywords=”DHS Hurricane 3″ locale=”US” tag=”ert06-20″]Check price[/easyazon_link])/ Read reviews |
| Backhand Rubber | Pro version of Butterfly Tenergy 05 (harder sponge Max Thickness 2.25 mm, 38 hardness DHS scale, about 48 hardness ESN scale) ([easyazon_link keywords=”Butterfly Tenergy” locale=”US” tag=”ert06-20″]Check price[/easyazon_link])/ Read reviews |
Which blade did Zhang Jike use before he started using Viscaria?
So before using the fast ALC Viscaria blade, which blade Zhang Jike used at the young age?
At a young age, Zhang Jike started with all wood 5 plies SWORD blade (Flared handle). Like many other young Chinese kids, he took the cheapest blade on the market. He was trained by his father, and then join the National Team.
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Hello coach i like your videos.
What happent IF the opponent recevives the serve to the week side or use the backhand flick to attack your serve. Also how are you able to serve well enough with good enough spin to make the opponent receive to your dominant side. Also do you serve like dis in your matches. Thank you if you answord my question. It should me realy helpfoul
olympic silver is china is not a good result , becouse only two chinese players participate ，you know nowadays china dominate this game
Buh, when zhang jike got silver who gets gold that year? Ma long.
I find this article to be confusing, confused and therefore not so interesting. Taking only Olympics medals to evaluate the greatest in history is short-sighted. Imagine for a moment an extreme case of a player who wins 8 world championship in a row plus the most titles by far in the pro tournament such as China Open and others during that 8 years span, but is a bit young and does not make the team the year before his first world championship, then is injured therefore misses the Olympics 4 years later, and then gets 2 golds 4 years after… Read more »