There's too much table tennis to give you a blow by blow description of the DVDs, so I'll settle for my thoughts on the production, and highlights of each DVD.
Production Quality
I have come to expect a high standard of production from Reflex Sports DVDs, and the 2008 set are no exception. Apart from the standard crisp footage from an elevated vantage point which gives an excellent view of the action, there are a number of other techniques used throughout the DVDs to enhance the experience.- Bird's eye camera views of the play.
- Different camera angles used in slow motion replays of points - which allows you to view the top player's technique from the side or other angles. It also makes it easier to judge at what depth they position themselves around the table during the point.
- Intelligent editing of the footage - no endless repeats of Ma Lin fanning himself, but also enough views of the player's and their team mates' celebrations at the end of the point and the crowd's cheering to help you feel the tension of a real match, not just an edited highlight reel.
- Plenty of player closeups to allow you to see the player's reactions and emotions during the matches.
- No commentary - a real plus not to have to listen to raving Chinese commentators or uninformed westerners.
- Point by point scoring displayed so you don't have to try to remember the score.
DVD A Highlights
DVD A features the Men's Quarterfinal matches involving Czech Republic vs China, and Romania vs Hong Kong.
Czech Republic vs China
There is a quite good mix of styles in this matchup. First up is Petr Korbel (WR 32) vs Wang Liqin (WR 3) - a two wing looper vs a power looper/driver. This is an excellent chance to view Korbel's renowned backhand banana flick return of serve - and notice that Wang has a pretty good version himself!
Next up is Tomas Pavelka (WR 123) vs Ma Lin (WR 2). A forehand looper Czech vs the Chinese penhold looper/hitter Ma. This is followed by Josef Simoncik (WR 265) vs Wang Hao (WR 1). On paper, this should be a walkover for rpb penholder Wang, but two wing looper Simoncik has other ideas.
Hong Kong vs Romania
This matchup also has an interesting mix of styles, with the Romanian two wing looper players (Andre Filimon - WR 74, Adrian Crisan - WR 30, and Constantin Cioti - WR 107) going up against three different Hong Kong stylists. You have a traditional penholder Li Ching (WR 11), left handed penholder (with occasional rpb attack) Ko Lai Chak (WR 26), and forehand looper / backhand loop/driver Tang Peng (WR 27).
The first game between Li Ching and Andrei Filimon is a bit onesided, with Li dominating the match, but the others are pretty close and there are a number of excellent rallies to enjoy.
DVD B Highlights
DVD B features Japan vs Chinese Taipei, and Korea vs Germany. There are a number of styles on display here - the left handed looping of Jun Mizutani (WR 29), the penhold looping of Chiang Peng-Lung (WR 36), right and left handed two wing loopers in Chuan Chih Yuan (WR 14) and Jorg Rosskopf (WR 47), a modern defender in Joo Se Hyuk (WR 12). You also get the lightning fast footwork of Ryu Seung Min (WR 8) and the strange backhand serving technique of Dimitrij Ovtcharov (WR 15). Plenty of good rallies, tight matches and a few upsets to boot. This is my second favorite of the 4 DVDs, just narrowly being edged out by DVD C.DVD C Highlights
This is probably the pick of the DVDs in my opinion. If you are just going to buy one DVD, I'd recommend this one - it's got the lot.It's Men's Semifinals now, with China vs Hong Kong and Korea vs Japan. The China vs Hong Kong match is a great learning tool, as the Chinese players put on a training clinic. China never really looks threatened, but the Hong Kong players keep on fighting and you get the chance to appreciate the brutally efficient technique of the Chinese.
The next semifinal with Korea vs Japan is a real barn burner. Neither side is as technically perfect as the Chinese, and as a result the matches are closer and the rallies longer - and what rallies there are! Keep an eye out for a huge 29 stroke counterlooping rally in the final game of the match between Lee Jung Woo and Jun Mizutani - woo hoo! I'd say that this semifinal is probably the match of the tournament - it's definitely the highlight of the DVD sets. A great, great match.
DVD D Highlights
The final DVD of the set captures the Women's Team Final and the Men's Team final.The Women's Team final is between China and Singapore. I'm not normally a big watcher of women's matches, but I sat through this final and enjoyed it immensely - more than the Men's Final in actual fact. These women are just so darn good and play a much more attractive brand of table tennis than the old constant counter hitting style I remember from many years ago. The Singaporeans are fired up to have a red hot go against the Chinese, and for a while it looks like there a few cracks developing in the Chinese wall. But Zhang Yining digs deep when it counts and puts out the Singaporean fire. A case of what might have been for Singapore.
The Men's Team final is not a walkover for China by any means - apart from the final match where Wang Liqin gives Joo Se Hyuk a bit of a bath. But Korea can't quite get anything to go their way, and their chance for glory slips away. Interesting that of the 6 players, only one is a standard shakehand looper/driver - Wang Liqin. Four of the others are some version of penholders (Ma Lin, Wang Hao, Ryu Seung Min, and Lee Jung Woo), and one is a modern defender (Joo Se Hyuk). What were we all being told about the death of the penhold style? Hmmm, maybe not.
Interested in purchasing one or more of the 2008 World Team Table Tennis Championships DVDs? Buy Direct
