(Chung's notes: In the last 2 weeks of closed training, the coaches set a rule that the players could not make any telephone calls. This was done to eliminate any media contact between players and reporters that might have led to rumors about who are the chosen players to go to the Worlds. The closed training is now completed, and the players are allowed to talk.)
Since April 4, when the team announced the Worlds roster, I can write again. In the past 2 weeks, my training has been systematic and intense. My strained neck has now fully recovered, and my right shoulder is much better, thanks to the treatment by our doctors. I have also got used to my racket, although to be frank, my delicate touches are still not quite as precise as before (with the small ball), and I have some problems in serve returns. The last couple of days I played matches against Ma, Wang and Liu Guozheng, and I did not win a single one. Frequently I had a lead, but then relaxed, and lost. In doubles, Liu and I are doing much better now. Liu's forehand attacks are much improved, compared to before the training sessions. He also has finalized his equipment, and is fairly satisfied with it.
Our main goal in Osaka is of course to take back the Swaythling Cup. As an older player, I have a big responsibility in the team competition. But I do not want any of the teammates to depend on others; we need our collective effort to win. All 5 team players are very strong, so I believe our team is the strongest, and I am very confident that we will win. I am also playing singles and doubles. Because the players in a doubles pair now have to belong to the same association (country), our doubles opponents are a little weaker than before. In men's singles, the competition is about the same as before. The degree of difficulty in winning the singles title is about the same as in the Olympics. My present condition is just average. I hope to raise my level to about 70% right before the Worlds, and the reamining 30 % will be brought out by the competition. That way, I could reach my peak at the team finals. What I worry the most now is that I am not as confident against my opponents as before. Ever since the big ball has been used, I have played very few international matches. We do not have complete video tapes of our opponents. How well will I perform against our old opponents is still questionable.
Fans asked me whether I feel tired and bored in the closed training period. Since I joined the national team when I was 12, I have participated in countless training sessions, so to me, this is neither new nor unbearable. We have such a huge volume of training that it is normal to feel tired. But this time, because of my strained neck, I actually did not work as hard as my teammates. On the subject of whether I am bored, I think my usual practices in Beijing must appear to be very boring for others. In the closed training, the only difference is that we have less space, but the routines are just the same. Actually what I do is not that much different than normal people going to work every day from 9 to 5.
Here is some background info on the two new players:
Nu Jianfeng (playing in women's singles):
Birthdate: April 3, 1981. Birthplace: Boading, Hebei. Height: 1.65m. Has been playing since 6 years old. Joined national team in 1997. Important results: 1999 All-City team champion, 2000 National Team champion, 2001 Super League first place.
Zhan Jian (playing in men's singles and mixed doubles):
Birthdate: Jan. 1