INTERVIEW WITH WILSON ZHANG-NORTH AMERICAN TOUR FINALS CHAMPION

Here is the venue set-up for the North American Tour Finals at Stanford in October.  We got a chance to interview Wilson Zhang before this finals match. (Photo by Kingston Gee)

NorCal Table Tennis:  Where in China are you from?

Wilson Zhang: I am from Heilongjiang. (Heilongjiang is the same place that 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 8-time World Champion Kong Linghui is from)

NorCal Table Tennis: What caused your move to Canada?

Wilson Zhang:  I have a friend who lives in Ottawa and that is how discussions of the move started.

NorCal Table Tennis:  For how long have you been on the Chinese National Team?

Wilson Zhang: I was on the Chinese National Team from 1994-1998.

NorCal Table Tennis:  Who are your best wins in table-tennis?

Wilson Zhang:  I have beaten Ma Lin (4-time World Cup Champion and current world #2) and Liu Guoliang (Olympic and World Men's Singles and Men's Doubles Champion) in the Chinese Super League and Michael Maze recently on the ITTF Pro Tour.  I have also beaten Kong Linghui many times in practice as we played for the same Super League club (Heilongjiang).  (Note: Wilson lost 11-8 in the 7th when playing 2003 World Men's Singles Champion Werner Schlager of Austria in the Canada Cup Finals)

Wilson Zhang's lethal forehand has landed him wins over the world's best players. (Photo by Long Nguyen)

NorCal Table Tennis:  What is your current training schedule like?

Wilson Zhang:  I practice everyday from 5 PM to 9 PM with the Canadian National Team in Ottawa.

NorCal Table Tennis:  Who financially supports your training?

Wilson Zhang: The Canadian Association.

NorCal Table Tennis:  How many Pro Tours does the Canadian Association send you to?

Wilson Zhang:  The Canadian Association sends me to about 8 Pro Tours a year.

NorCal Table Tennis: Do they pay all your expenses?

Wilson Zhang:  Yes.

NorCal Table Tennis:  Do you also coach currently?

Wilson Zhang: No, I just practice.

NorCal Table Tennis:  What are your goals in table-tennis?

Wilson Zhang:  I am currently ranked roughly around #100 in the world and hope to get inside the top 50.  I also hope to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Wilson Zhang: Which Canadian players do you think have the best future in table-tennis?

NorCal Table Tennis:  Bence (Csaba) and Praddy (Peter-Paul Pradeeban).

NorCal Table Tennis: What do you hope out of this North American Tour Finals?

Wilson Zhang:  (No answer)

NorCal Table Tennis: How about revenge on Stefan Feth who beat you in May?

Wilson Zhang:  (Small nod with a laugh and Wilson did end up beating Stefan)

Stefan Feth serves to Wilson Zhang in the North American Tour Finals.  In the May San Diego Open, Zhang was up 3-1, 7-1 before losing 14 straight points and the match.  In the Tour Finals in October at Stanford, Zhang was down 3-1 but came back to win in the 7th. (Photo by Kingston Gee)