Therefore these two actions are actually complementary and not contradictory. It is to create a correct balance.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT: you are absolutely correct in saying that the players are affected psychologically. Especially the top players including the Chinese. All the top players have lost their "security blanket". The shorter the game, the easier for the weaker player to win and create an upset. This is true. BUT this is a good thing. It is creating excitement. A Polish player won the Pro Tour in Holland.

It is good for Poland and it encourages other countries. It is only a matter of time the top players will adjust and they will play like with 21 points. At the moment they have not yet adjusted to the mental part of playing with just 11 points. Their technique and beautiful play will come back for sure. With 21 points there were a lot of wasted time and wasted points because of the security the top player had that in the "long run" he will win anyway. Now the tension and stress is high all the time. This is good. The players must become more intense and play 100% from the first point. Don't forget that in tennis the game is only 4 points !

In any case, maybe we are wrong. Only fools do not admit that they are wrong. We will wait until the full year is played with 11 points (next September) and then we will see. Maybe you are right and 11 points is too short or maybe we have to increase the number of games (matches of 9 Games instead of 7), or maybe we must go back to 21 points. We will see. In the meantime, please keep an open mind and realise that this is not against the Chinese players, it is in favour of the entire world to make our sport more popular and have more players all over the world and not just in China (PARTICIPATION).

Again, I thank you for your concern and input.

Adham Sharara , ITTF President

Dear ITTF President,

Thank you for your immediate response. As a 100% pingpong fan, I appreciate it.

From an academic point of view, it seems that your way of testing the new scoring system is a scientific method. And you seem to be a man with a serious working attitude and open mind, which is unlike what some Chinese media said that it looked like you were abusing your power as the ITTFpresident to prevent the China monopoly in pingpong. I can tell from your intention that you want the new scoring system to achieve good results. However, pingpong is a fast sport. To some extent, top players today reaching this level are rather competing in their psychological strength more than in their technical skills and physical capabilities. The best example is the 46th team event between China and Korea. The 11 points system would not enhance the exciting degree because they have already reached the limit in the 21 points system and may not be able to reach the level again with a shorter time frame. Put it another way, if we play 3 points, I may be able to beat Wang Liqin and have a chance to win some title, which, I believe, it is what you are unwilling to see for the future of the sport.

Also, don't you think the idea of 11 points is contradicting with the idea of 40 mm larger ball? The larger ball is used to make the game slower and to have more wonderful views from rallies. But the 11 points is making top players feel more tense and unable to exert themselves fully, which will reduce the effects of the larger ball. There will be no synergy effects from the combination of the two actions, larger ball and shorter game. I haven't heard any fan supporting the new counting system but I do heard supporting voice for the larger ball. Players like Legout from France also gave their complaints on the new scoring system on the ittfprotour website.

Maybe my language in the previous email is a little bit harsh, but as a 100% pingpong fan, I think you should be informed of what pingpong fans and players are thinking about. ITTF shall not be like a political organization. The fate of pingpong shall not be decided by a few "politicians". That's all I want to say.

Regards,

Ting, a 100% pingpong fan