Name: Haiyun Huang
Status: PHD candidate
Style: Penhold
Strategy: Chinese 3 ball attack/rotation, play close to the table.
Strenghts: Forehand loop, forehand counter, ball playment, serve, speed, and serve return.
Weakness: Backhand loop, away from the table defense.
Overall: Solid offesive close to the table player. Uses the 3 ball attack very well, but as expected, has a tendency to hit a lot unefforced effors. Huang given more pratice with 1800 plus ranking players, could easily surpass the 2300 ranking mark very quickly. But in the meantime, he probably will continue to be easily defeated by players whose rankings exceed 2100 and have mastered the basic table tennis skills.
Estimated USATT ranking: 2050
Name: Yi Peng
Status: Graduate Student
Style: Shakehand
Strategy: Slow pace pushing, consistency, and finishing forehand
Strenghts: Chop, forehand smash, game intelligence
Weaknesses: Speed, looping, variety of serves, back hand counter
Overall: Player who uses slow pace game to get opponent out of rhythm, then looks for an opportunity to finsish him with one forehand smash. Presents a bad match up for talented players, who are still in the development stage(and have little confidence in thier skills), but for players in the 2000 ranking area who can consistently loop, he will have a lot of trouble finding a way to win.
Estimated USATT ranking: 1700
Name: Du Zhi
Status: Postdoctorate candidate
Style: Penhold
Style: A mix of Chinese 3 ball attack and slow paced pushing
Strenghts: Sidespin serve, away from the table defence, game intelligence
Weaknesses: Backhand loop, backhand counter, consistent forehand counter, tendency to move backwards while hitting
Overall: A lefty who wins mostly by his wit and intelligence. A type of approach that is supported by his defense. A bad matchup for many players. However, a perfect example of a player who is one Robo Pong machine away from defeating Kong Linghui. Thai is, if his posture and strokes were more fundemental, he would be fun to watch.
Estimated USATT ranking: 1620