There’s nothing like the Olympic Games to remind you of your own sporting inadequacies.
Whether it’s the otherworldly pace of champion cyclists or the superhuman strength of the weightlifters, the message is clear. These people are better than you will ever be, so your best bet is to just live vicariously through their ridiculous talents.
That certainly applies to Chinese table tennis star Ma Long and his Japanese opponent Jun Mizutani, who were competing in the semi-finals of the men’s singles competition.
Ma got the better of Mizutani in a sensational rally which demonstrated the unreal reactions and skill needed to succeed in the sport.
We’ve watched this clip about a dozen times and lost count of the number of times the point should, by rights, have been over. And this was only the semi-final.
Can you still see the ball, son?
No, no I can't.#Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/VEq5u89Inj
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) August 11, 2016
Ma won the semi by four games to two and will now face compatriot Zhang Jike in the gold medal match, while Mizutani faces Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus with the winner taking home bronze.
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