In the fifth round of the Men’s Singles event at the Japanese National Championships on Thursday 16th January 2009, Jin Ueda, who has enjoyed success on the ITTF Junior Circuit, duly progressed to the next round.
The statistics read that he posted a seven games victory, winning 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 12-14, 9-11, 11-2, 11-8.
However, the contest had much more significance; the man he beat was 41 year old Koji Matsushita, who following the end of the match, announced his retirement from competitive play.
Traditional Defender
An era, not only in Japanese table tennis but in world table tennis has come to an end.
Watching Koji Matsushita play was a lesson in traditional defensive perfection; he executed his skills in the mode of his immediate predecessor, Norio Takashima, the classical backspin artist.
Modern Day Defender
He is the last world class player of that ilk.
The modern day male defender in the highest echelons of table tennis possesses a powerful forehand topspin, Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk and China’s Hou Yingchao being masters of the art. Koji Matsushita never possessed a forehand of that genre but opponents will tell you that it was by no means passive and when unleashed was deceptively effective.
Upheld Values
A model player and a model player in more ways than one; table tennis in many ways like golf, is blessed with those who uphold true sporting values. They compete but they never seek to take unfair advantage.
On the ranking list of table tennis gentlemen, the name of Koji Matsushita is at the very top and it was against a man of like character that I first saw Koji Matsushita demonstrate his outstanding talents.
Cleveland Open
In the early 1990s with twin brother Yuji, a right handed penhold grip player, he competed in the Cleveland Open in the north of England and in the latter stages of the Men’s Singles event had to play Desmond Douglas.
I sat courtside watching the contest. Against the traditional defender Desmond Douglas was pretty good, in fact he was very good; his reading of the spin on a table tennis ball was exceptional. Many a time I’d watched England’s defensive ace, Matthew Syed, retrieve the ball from the nether regions of the court against high class international players and succeed.
Different Story
Against Desmond Douglas it was a different story, consistently attacking the long pimples on the backhand with incredible consistency and then waiting for the opportunity to finish the point, saw Desmond Douglas emerge successful time and again.
At the Cleveland Open, Desmond Douglas pursued the same policy against Koji Matsushita; every ball came back from the rock solid defence. It was hard for me to believe what was happening; the Englishman could not penetrate the superb Japanese backspin play.
Koji Matsushita won and English hearts sank.
Appropriate Moment
The skill shown in that contest has delighted crowds around the world and saying farewell at the Japanese National Championships was an appropriate moment.
During his career he won the Men’s Singles title four times and with fellow defender, Hiroshi Shibutani, the Men’s Doubles, seven times. It is a splendid record in a country where excellence in table tennis is so high.
Motivation
"I am so happy to have concluded 32 years of life in table tennis", said Koji Matsushita. "My motivation to play lapsed last year when I stopped wearing the Japanese shirt but my motivation to help the development of table tennis and help young players is as strong as ever."
In the role of a player, Koji Matsushita has been a great ambassador for the sport of table tennis; now in a different role, without any shadow of doubt whatsoever, that will continue.
The example he sets is a model for all.
Source: www.ittf.com
