Only three weeks ago, world #1 Chen Meng cemented her supreme status in China's table tennis firmament with a win at the Chinese Olympic table tennis simulation. With her place on China's Olympic team assured, the 27-year-old Chen entered this week's simulation with every reason to be confident. Meanwhile, Chen's teammate Wang Manyu (pictured) also added an Olympic bullet point to her résumé, not as a starter but issued a "P-card" signifying substitute status. The 22-year-old Wang is ranked fourth in the world, and third in China. As fate would have it, the two teammates would cross paths and swords today as the two finalists in the women's singles event. The favored Cheng won the first game comfortably at 11-7, only to watch Wang storm back to win three in a row. Chen, however, is #1 in the world for a reason, dominating the fifth game to put the pressure on her junior colleague. Leading three games to two, Wang got a little tentative after securing five match points at 10-5. After Cheng won three points to pull within two, Wang must have felt a panic as the unthinkable began to unfold. Facing her moment of truth, Wang ceased to be a passive observer to her fate and instead seized control. With a backhand serve to Cheng's forehand, a backhand topspin to the middle and a backhand loop kill crosscourt, Cheng both forced and avoided a fateful error with the (7-11, 11-8, 13-11, 14-12, 4-11, 11-8) win. "I was so desperate for a singles championship that I could hardly put my mind together when the victory was just around the corner," said the relieved champion Wang. "I know I'm a substitute with P-card that may not have a chance actually to debut on the Olympic stage, but I should be well prepared just like the Olympians," reflected Wang. "That's why I'm now playing a humble game and focus on every detail." Such attention to detail also paid off in the women's doubles event. Wang, partnered with Sun Yingsha, once again triumphed over Chen Meng (paired with Liu Shiwen) to lift the trophy. P-card or no, Wang Manyu proved that her inclusion on the vaunted Chinese Olympic team was well warranted. Like Picard, she is the captain of her ship.

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