Revenge, as the hoary saw has it, is a dish best served cold. This recipe, unfortunately, is quite lacking in specifics. Exactly how cold are we talking here? What kind of plating? Side dishes? Garnishes? Wine pairings? Upon closer examination, it is really more of an opinion than a recipe. Regardless of the dearth of details, however, the sentiment still serves sufficiently as a motivating factor, as seen today in Milpitas, California. In this week's edition of the Thursday Night Live: T2 Challenge, two Tokyo-bound Olympic teammates faced off in a clash of offensive firepower. Using the novel “T2” format, 17-year-old Nikhil Kumar faced 31-year-old Zhou Xin. While both employ the shakehand grip, Kumar insists on confusing matters by playing left-handed. Both Californians earned spots on the 2020 US Olympic Team by dint of their stellar showings at February’s team trials in Santa Monica. Kumar went undefeated, securing the right to join US champion Kanak Jha Tokyo. Zhou also put on a clinic, going undefeated until dropping his final match with Kumar. While the primary goal of securing a ticket to Tokyo was achieved, ending an otherwise perfect run on a loss always leaves a bitter aftertaste. (Just ask the 2007 New England Patriots.) With a rematch staged for “America’s first virtual table tennis tournament,” the two titans would battle again. Kumar, a favorite in both USATT and ITTF rankings, took the early lead after staving off three game points to steal game one. Zhou would immediately answer with a solid second game. Level at 6-all, he closed on a 5-1 run to even the match. A crucial point in game three may have been the difference in the match. Leading 8-7, Kumar missed an easy forehand smash, emitting a plaintive groan of frustration. Zhou Xin capitalized on his unexpected good fortune, winning the game 11-9 with a step-around banana flick from his forehand court. Sensing the completion of his chilled cuisine, he closed out the next two games with backhand winners as well. With a (10-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7) scoreline, Zhou Xin proved he is ready for Tokyo. Nikhil Kumar showed flashes of brilliance but needs to be more consistent to be a real threat in Tokyo. With less than a year to train, these two teammates and rivals can continue to hone their blades on each other as they prepare to represent their country on the world’s grandest stage. Now, it is Nikhil Kumar’s turn to refine the recipe for revenge.

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