Why did Wang Manyi lose?
Title: The Shock of Wang Manyu's Defeat: A Deep Dive into the Reactions from Weibo Netizens and the Table Tennis Team's Performance at the Asian Games

1 October 2023
On September 30, China witnessed a shocking day in its delegation's performance at the Asian Games. While the Chinese weightlifting team lost two gold medals, and the men's three-on-three basketball team was defeated by Taiwan, the most surprising turn of events was undoubtedly the failure of the Chinese table tennis team, particularly the defeat of Wang Manyu, a prominent figure in the sport.
Wang Manyu, despite being the only member of the four-person team without a head coach for individual events and mixed events, took the loss gracefully and accepted responsibility for the defeat. In an interview after her team's loss, she pointed out that there were communication errors at an overall level, and their response methods when encountering difficulties were limited, resulting in unclear scoring means.
However, this mature attitude by Wang Manyu did not go unnoticed by Weibo netizens, who expressed mixed reactions to the team's performance. Some praised her for her responsible behavior and dedication to her sport, while others criticized the coaching staff for their lack of preparation and responsibility in such crucial moments.
One user commented, "Thank you, Sister Wang! Keep up the good work!" indicating their support for Wang Manyu's mature stance and handling of the situation. However, another user was far more critical, stating, "You media people's words are really disgusting. Don't act like you know nothing about table tennis if you don't watch it! The loss in two women's doubles matches is the biggest responsibility of the coaching staff. Do they have deep thinking during training? Does their technical and tactical planning before the match?" clearly indicating dissatisfaction with the team's preparation, or lack thereof.
Another user pointed out Coach Wang's absence from a press conference following the loss, stating, "Thank you, Sister Wang! Keep up the good work!" This criticism of Coach Wang's absence from the post-match analysis reflects another line of thought among netizens: that the coaching staff should be more accountable for their team's performance.
The reactions on Weibo underline the mixed emotions and opinions related to the defeat of Wang Manyu and her team. While some users praised her maturity and dedication, others criticized the coaching staff for their absence during post-match press conferences and their apparent lack of preparation.
The failure of the Chinese table tennis team at the Asian Games has sparked intense discussions among Weibo netizens, with some users pointing fingers at Wang Manyu's coachless status while others criticize Coach Wang for not being present during post-match press conferences. The incident emphasizes the crucial role of coaching staff in high-pressure situations like these and the importance of accountability in sports performance.