Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Record 19 medals thus far!!!! Amazing

[Gollum]

12 minutes ago, I6MTW said:

I'm talking in terms of a tennis player. Since Osaka was a tennis player, in place of her , Nishikori would've been a better choice. Of course Japan has an abundance of great athletes across various disciplines. That is evident from their past performances across various events, as well as their temporary standing at the first place in the Olympic table currently. 

Why a tennis player? That's my question. Olympics isn't just tennis, not even a side event here forget marquee events like 100m, marathon, vault. 

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But, a tennis player has never lighted the opening ceremony before in any Olympic event. It would be nice for tennis popularity and a nice feeling for tennis fans. 

Not watching this event as a tennis fan. Neither are 99.9% of the spectators I am sure. Even hardcore tennis fans will be spending more time following other athletes from their countries. 

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She currently is the most popular Japanese athlete in terms of popularity

Yeah but popularity shouldn't mean overlooking more deserving candidates. 

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and has very good achievements at such an early stage in her career. It's just that she's mentally weak and fragile. She also spends more time engaging in various off-court activitis than on the court. Unlike Nishikori, who's a hard worker and has made the maximum out of his career. He is also responsible for the increase in popularity for tennis in Japan and is the most marketable athlete, he earns the most in endorsements for a Japanese athlete, and as a tennis player, apart from Federer.  Japan never had a tennis star before him, while they always had star performers in various other sports. 

Agree with most of what you are saying. I like Osaka's tennis but she is too big a drama queen. 

Nishikori's contribution to Japanese tennis may be big, but there are 100s of greater Olympians from Japan. 

Edited July 27, 2021 by Gollum

[Gollum]

27 minutes ago, neel roy said:

The only premier athelete i have seen who never faced mental strain and infact used to give mental strain to others ( opponent bowlers, team mates and we audience) was one mr virender sehwag.. 

Also this legend

 

[ShoonyaSifar]

@Gollum More than being a Tennis player, she is perhaps the most successful athlete from Black Japanese community  (a Japanese mother and Haitian dad). For a largely mono-ethnic country like Japan, this biracial symbolism was way too powerful not to be showcased at Olympics.

Edited July 27, 2021 by ShoonyaSifar

[Gollum]

@I6MTW let us at least agree that tennis in Olympics isn't that big. Only for countries which struggle to win medals, only for the GOAT race, some importance. 

[ShoonyaSifar]

1 minute ago, Gollum said:

@I6MTW let us at least agree that tennis in Olympics isn't that big. Only for countries which struggle to win medals, only for the GOAT race, some importance. 

Of course it isn't. Wasn't even part of Summer Olympics till the 1988 Seoul Olympics (dropped in 1924). The rules are not as stringent as they are for Slam events (even men's singles is best of 3 sets, straight tie breakers in decider set)

[Gollum]

Just now, ShoonyaSifar said:

@Gollum More than being a Tennis player, she is the most successful athlete from Black Japanese community  (a Japanese mother and Haitian dad). For a largely mono-ethnic country like Japan, this symbolism was way too powerful not to be showcased at Olympics.

Yeah maybe they wanted to ride the bandwagon of identity politics, do some virtue signaling, funny since it is a raging issue in America and Europe, not so much in mono-ethnic Japan. 

 

Sure Japan has racism related issues, but you can't compare this symbolism with Muhammad Ali lighting the cauldron in Atlanta or aboriginal athlete Cathy Freeman doing the same 4 years later in Sydney. Those were indeed powerful, emotional symbols. 

[maniac]

5 minutes ago, Gollum said:

@I6MTW let us at least agree that tennis in Olympics isn't that big. Only for countries which struggle to win medals, only for the GOAT race, some importance. 

why did Federer give up on the diamond slam? Nadal has it doesn’t he? Djokovic has a chance to if I am not mistaken. 

[I6MTW]

3 minutes ago, Gollum said:

@I6MTW let us at least agree that tennis in Olympics isn't that big. Only for countries which struggle to win medals, only for the GOAT race, some importance. 

Yes tennis isn't. Neither is football. I agree for Olympics there are more important events. 

I also agree with @ShoonyaSifar regarding Osaka . She did come from a Black Japanese minority, and Japan being the reserved, homophobic nation it is, doesn't consider half Japanese as actual Japanese. So despite that, she chose to represent Japan, not even knowing the language. Osaka is most probably a nice person, and a champion for winning 4 GS, twice consecutively, the only one since Serena. Only her drama and emotional baggage is stopping her from reaching even higher.

[Gollum]

1 minute ago, maniac said:

why did Federer give up on the diamond slam? Nadal has it doesn’t he? Djokovic has a chance to if I am not mistaken. 

Age. He had his chances in 2004 and 2012, blew them. Injured his knee in 2016 Wimbledon. He has lost the race. 

[I6MTW]

1 minute ago, maniac said:

why did Federer give up on the diamond slam? Nadal has it doesn’t he? Djokovic has a chance to if I am not mistaken. 

 

Golden Slam

 

Federer is too old and injured to have a chance at the Olympics. He was also unlucky in 2016 as he got injured and took the entire year off because of surgery. He would've had chances if he were healthy. He had chances in the past and blew it, especially in 2012 when there was no tiebreaker in deciding sets at the Olympics, which cost him against Andy Murray in the final , after a gruelling SF against Del Potro

[maniac]

Just now, I6MTW said:

 

Golden Slam

 

Federer is too old and injured to have a chance at the Olympics. He was also unlucky in 2016 as he got injured and took the entire year off because of surgery. He would've had chances if he were healthy. He had chances in the past and blew it, especially in 2012 when there was no tiebreaker in deciding sets at the Olympics, which cost him against Andy Murray in the final , after a gruelling SF against Del Potro

My understanding was golden slam is all 4 slams and diamond is all 4 + Olympic gold 

[I6MTW]

2 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Age. He had his chances in 2004 and 2012, blew them. Injured his knee in 2016 Wimbledon. He has lost the race. 

2012 was his best chance. The gruelling SF against Del Potro destroyed whatever chance he had in the final. The rules didn't even make sense. Which competition has no tie breaker for a deciding three-setter? If only the final was best of 5, then the other rounds should have been normal best of 3 like other competitions. 

 

They finally changed it in subsequent Olympic tournaments, but they abolished the best of 5 this year, which reduces any prestige the Olympics has for tennis. 

[ShoonyaSifar]

Another joke of a federation trains it's guns on an athlete.

 

Manika refusing national coach's help is act of indiscipline: TTFI

 

They are doing this to the first Indian to have gone to round 3 of the TT event at the Olympics. All because she said it would have helped to have her personal coach with her (like the other players in the squad). 100% sure some corrupt official from the federation would have taken the spot of her coach in the entourage.

 

I hate Anurag Thakur, the arrogant dynast. But I'd love to see him disband each of these corrupt federations. Surely as the Sports Minister, he has the power to do so 

[I6MTW]

3 minutes ago, maniac said:

My understanding was golden slam is all 4 slams and diamond is all 4 + Olympic gold 

No, I think grand Slam is all 4. Either Career Grand Slam (all 4 in an entire career), or Calendar Grand(all 4 in an entire year, even rarer). Golden is all 4 plus Olympics, which can be career or in a single year.

 

At least that's what I remember reading. 

[Gollum]

9 minutes ago, maniac said:

My understanding was golden slam is all 4 slams and diamond is all 4 + Olympic gold 

Golden Slam is 4 majors plus Olympic gold in a year (opportunity once in 4 years, 5 this time due to Tokyo postponement). Steffi Graff achieved it in 1988.

 

Grand Slam is all 4 majors in a year. We often misuse the term 'Grand Slam'. Call the individual majors GS tournaments and if all 4 are won in a single year, Grand Slam. Rod Laver had the Grand Slam in 1969. 

 

Djokovic had NCYGS (Non Calendar Year Grand Slam) meaning not winning all 4 in the same year but having all 4 trophies at the same time. He had the NCYGS in 2015-16 (Wimbledon and USO 2015, Australian and French Opens in 2016), which again was a tremendous achievement...Federer and Nadal have never achieved that incredible feat. 

Edited July 27, 2021 by Gollum

[Gollum]

17 minutes ago, I6MTW said:

2012 was his best chance. The gruelling SF against Del Potro destroyed whatever chance he had in the final. The rules didn't even make sense. Which competition has no tie breaker for a deciding three-setter? If only the final was best of 5, then the other rounds should have been normal best of 3 like other competitions. 

Still he should have done better, also got rattled by the pro-Murray crowd which was very loud that day. It was prime Federer, in great form, on his favorite surface and court, chance gone begging. 

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They finally changed it in subsequent Olympic tournaments, but they abolished the best of 5 this year, which reduces any prestige the Olympics has for tennis. 

Yeah not that important. Nole is going for it because of GOAT race (clay in 2024 Paris at the age of 37 means very little chance) and because Serbia isn't an Olympic powerhouse, moreover has to pander to nationalist Serbian fans. Who knows with his popularity and style of politics in the Balkans he may land a major political role post-retirement, can't leave holes in his resume 

Edited July 27, 2021 by Gollum

[Gollum]

Enjoyed Sharath Kamal's play today, won a set and could have won the 3rd one as well (went down 11-13) against defending gold medalist from Rio 2016. Was expecting a blowout but the veteran gave it his all, that's what we expect from our athletes. Bring your A game at the biggest stage, may not be enough like against today's Chinese champ, but still. 

[I6MTW]

11 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Still he should have done better, also got rattled by the pro-Murray crowd which was very loud that day. It was prime Federer, in great form, on his favorite surface and court, chance gone begging. 

Yeah not that important. Nole is going for it because of GOAT race (clay in 2024 Paris at the age of 37 means very little chance) and because Serbia isn't an Olympic powerhouse, moreover has to pander to nationalist Serbian fans. Who knows with his popularity and style of politics in the Balkans he may land a major political role post-retirement, can't leave holes in his resume 

Nole seems like the person who would make a good politician. I mean that in a good way. The way he rebels against the ATP for support of lower ranked players. And his patriotism towards Serbia, makes me think he'll run for president after retirement someday. 

[Gollum]

Manu's coach in Tokyo (also shooter Heena Sidhu's husband) mocked our 2020 Khel Ratna winners (Rohit, Manika Batra, Vinesh Phogat, Rani Rampal, Thangavelu)...always stay humble and gracious especially on public platforms. 

 

 

[I6MTW]

Any projected medals from now on?