Top 10 table tennis defenders of all time

Table tennis defenders, a special sort of athletes. It takes a great amount of endurance to play table tennis defensively. But it does come with rewards. In todays video we are going to look at (in my humble opinion) top 10 table tennis players who played defense throughout the history.
Quick note - in my lack of knowledge i forgot to mention Norio Takashima in this list so forgive me table tennis fans! :)
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[@24ghosh24]

being a defender, heres my top 10. 1. Joo（no doubt）2.koji 3.Hou ying chou 4.Filus 5.Gionis, 6muramatsu yuto, 7Chitchetinine 8Shiono masato 9 Denis kalachevsky 10 Daniel kleinert.Andres avila has a entertaining style too..among women 1.Sato hitomi, 2. Wu yang,3 hashimoto honoka, 4 Kim kyun ah, 5 Pavlovic victoria, 6 liu fei, 7 seo hyo won

[@Traumwandler666-wi9if]

Have you just forgotten Han Ying,or...??? Some nice balls : kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWTJZp-jeamVeaM

[@user-lw4ym7pp3k]

Калачевський топ

[@EzadHameed]

Ma te?

[@Ibrahimmaloku123]

As a defender i agree

[@hansugu3265]

Ding Song is my favorite. His forehand counter attack was unbelievable in 1995 China v.s. Sweden. 90s were such a wonderful time for table tennis

[@gab5012]

I feel like Hao Yingchao winning the chinese national games twice is more impressive than any of the achievements lot of the choppers ranked higher. Unfortunately China had to much strong players giving him less international opportunities

[@TableTennisReport]

I belive Ma Te is going through a similar obstacle as it is hard to get in Chinese national team

[@putiputain1230]

@Table Tennis Report Ma Te resigned from the national team so he's playing more local and provincial.

[@hokeekeng2166]

It is not that there are too many too many strong player in China. It is just a convenience excuse to mislead. Elsewhere in the world many country have many good player as well. He already had his chance during his competitive/playing days.

[@gab5012]

@@hokeekeng2166 Hao Yinchao has beaten top players from germany, japan and many other good countries in chinese league but china would always use ma long, zhang jike, Fan Zehndong, Xu Xin for the big stage, the chinese B team isn't that far behind and can still beat anyone in the top 20 WTT rankings had they been given the same international experience but again competition is harder in china. If you actually look up his matches he is evenly matched with timo boll and dima in leagues and take them too the decider, and has beaten the likes of quadri aruna. Also choppers beating the top chinese is incredibly rare and hao yinchao still manged too sometimes defeat the his teammates in chinese internal compeition

[@hokeekeng2166]

@@gab5012 1) First, Hou Ying Chao 8 year age gap from Malong, Zhang jike and 10 years Gap from XuXin. Not to mentioned the younger Fan Zhen Dong. It is not they are using Malong, Jike, Xuxin or Fan. They are of diff generations. During his time he does have his chance on the global stage but deemed not suit for his country ideals. 2) Team B ??? It is just a myth. 3) Competition is hard everywhere in the World. Every country have the same spots available in international competitions. No one has it easy. So talk on a global basis not basis some myth or mirage. Know the game more even if you are just a Fan.

[@Zharioo26]

Great video ! Joo being #1 is no surprise to anyone. He's the goat defender ! A thing you forgot to mention is that he managed to reach #5 in the world ranking (iirc), which is astonishing for a defender, especially considering the competition (ZJK, WH, ML era). Cheers !

[@PPKspb]

Joo Sae-hyuk was WR N5 in 2012 - as I know highest rank for all defenders.

[@hl5597]

Highest rankings I think were no. 2 for Chen Xinhua as world champion with team China and finalist in men's singles...

[@hl5597]

Sorry... world ranking no. 4 in 1987... he also won the world cup 1985 and he was world champion with his team twice and no. 3 in men's singles wold champs

[@TableTennisReport]

@@hl5597 I did mess up by not including him 😶

[@ramonbmovies]

My fav defender is Joo Sae-hyuk. My fav game he played was against Ma Long. I forget which tournament, but he almost beat Ma Long in the finals. I remember them going into deuce in one game when it kept going back and forth. They were both utterly exhausted, yet they both performed amazingly. Ma Long barely eeked out a win, but the match could've gone either way.

[@TableTennisReport]

I belive that you are talking about Asian Games team final back in 2017. Great match!

[@alexdelarge5703]

My fav one is His match against Wang Liqin in the qatar open

[@srkstik__]

@@TableTennisReport 2014

[@24ghosh24]

Joo had 4match points against MA long in Hungarian open 2012i guess, 10-6up in decider n lost.. heartbreaking. but my favourite joo match has to be against timo in World Cup quarter where he won the decider 11-9. Second one when he beat MA Lin in watching 2003

[@jesselabadlabad1916]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6nRi5-emM2WnqMsi=VNeS4ZRbFUorbW9E

[@ahmadmujahid3823]

After covid 2020, I choose to play as a modern defender. Before that, I play cpen twiddler. My number 1 idol is mathieu de saintilan. Even he's playing in France pro B. 🙂

[@goranbostich8926]

Thanks a lot for your video. You have a reduced point of view, because only the "newer" defenders are mentioned. Greatest of all time meand, that the complete past schuold be considered. What about: Chen Xinhua Wang Hao (1987-1993) Huang Liang Liang Geliang Li Gun Sang Norio Takashima Hideo Goto Eberhard Schöler Engelbert Hüging Park Lee Hee All these players are available on youtube. Greetings Goran

[@TableTennisReport]

Thanks! I agree, i didn't go further into the past than the 90s. But thanks to you and some other viewers i will look into the old school defenders :)

[@maloghurst2741]

One of the most amazing matches to see is Joo saehyuk vs Hao yingchao. It was an Asia tournament but I forget which. It’s on KZbin. The most impressive is Joo wins playing almost entirely as offensive player!

[@Masked_Vitality]

I think you are referring to the Nojima T-league but yes that match was incredible

[@sashazxtt]

Can't argue with the spot number 1 :) I think Schetinin is probably the most obvious defender. He is very smooth in his play.

[@lemonite1489]

Great video!!! to dig up proper footage and highlights adds to the watchability

[@janpoec9655]

Great video, I've expected something clickbait-y, without much value, but you provided some great insights and less-known facts, and did this with great English as well as paying attention to correct name pronunciation - love it!

[@LHROSS]

Thanks that was great and you were great with the commentary and insights excellent defender history

[@sundiroberth]

thanks for this meaningful video. I really like Joo Saehyuk he is a defender with the most beautiful style of course there are also Ruwen Filus and Gionis. I love them all

[@jesselabadlabad1916]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO

[@wbmcl]

I'm not familiar with a few of defenders on your top 10, thus I'd have placed both Chen Xinhua and Li Gun Sang on the list, and at least an honorable mention to Eberhard Schöler.

[@TableTennisReport]

My lack of knowledge of table tennis defenders from the past is now revealed 😅 Thank you for your mentions 😎

[@JimTDF]

Li and Chen - sure but Scholer, that's too going too far in the past. Then you would have to go even further and start with Richard Bergmann. Let's agree not to consider the players from 1970s and before - mainly because (a) we really do not have enough video evidence; (b) rules and gear changed too darn much since then.

[@wbmcl]

I think it’s fair to keep Schöler the way I placed him - as an honorable mention. That category is malleable, as opposed to static 1-10 where we can provide stipulations for entry. Nothing dishonorable about mentioning defenders from other eras.

[@hokeekeng2166]

@@TableTennisReport it is not from the past! They are even still playing in Masushita period so it is a convenient miss.

[@autarko]

@@TableTennisReport There are some excellent videos of these players with great camera angles, Playing against Waldner, Rosskopf e.t.c. I'm sure you'd enjoy them but this video is fantastic as it stands.

[@Gobio2]

I believe you should also mention Chen Xinhua, who was the first Chinese modern defender that came to Europe and Li Gun Sang from PRK. Unfortunately, with the bigger and plastic ball the defenders became an endangered species, to be rarely seen at the highest level of competition.

[@CrassulaOvataHobbit]

Thanks a lot for your video, I did not know that some defenders play with short pips.

[@jesselabadlabad1916]

Im 43 already and Im inerested and trying to be a defender ,thank you so much for this video again

[@choipro1212]

Great job

[@xxcpa]

Besides the players you described, Xin Hua and Li Gun Sang are no doubt Superstars who bit many World Champions. However, if Scholer needs to be mentioned, then Sido must be named as you are talking about choppers of all time.

[@garylist9]

Another great chopper on you tube.......... Daniel kleinhert...... Just type the chopper. I adore Daniel's style and his huge forehand cracking chop. Loaded. Worth a watch. He's not top top but flippin good to watch. 😁

[@wladypimentel]

Perfect list.

[@HaaaTayo]

Great video! Can you do a video on top 10 pen holders of all time, and top 10 current pen holders?

[@TableTennisReport]

Great idea! I have best women's table tennis player of all time next in line, but after that maybe penhoders should be talked about :D

[@dardaleovi1398]

The GODFATHER OF ALL DEFENDERS,JOO SAE HYUK

[@aformal2]

 Chen Xinhua is my #1. He won the World Cup and was a Bronze in the World Championships.

[@KaxMisha]

Great video all in all, but the fact that you didn't even MENTION Li Gun-sang is upsetting. In my opinion, the top four should be: 1. Joo Sae-hyuk 2. Ding Song 3. Li Gun-sang 4. Hou Yingchao

[@koshnaranek9985]

An excellent run down and it is only opinion. However, somewhere in the top 10 I would have put Chen Xinhua and Liang Geliang. This was when choppers had proper long pimples and actually stood a chance! Also, no Liu Fie?

[@franckwellington2168]

Interesting video. And the author is logical and honest at thé sale time… The good players are in the top 10. Perharps we can modifie it the way we want, but it would be difficult to fire Joo sé hyuk from the first place. This guy played to well, his matches are spectacular and his results in competition are also better than the 9 other players’ results in the ranking…

[@TableTennisReport]

Thank you for your kind words bro! Reading some comments here i now see that i messed up regarding the inclusion of the 70s & 80s players. I hope fans of defending can forgive me 😬

[@pingybro]

Nice video👍

[@MrMilanoLau]

I remember watching a match in which both players were defenders. Both wanted the other to attack first, but no one was willing to take the initative. Throughout the whole match, the ball just went back and forth. It was quite an embarassing scene.

[@user-lk5iu6id4y]

Защитники против всех,это стиль который красив по своему.А так же это своеобразная философия.

[@formarce]

I missed that list of two names. chen xihua (chn/eng) and Lin Gun Sang (kor)

[@Yuri_Panbolsky]

Your text - "...of all time". Bergman won his first gold at the World Championships in 1937. By the way, for 67 years he remained the youngest world champion in table tennis. Zoltan Berczik №1 classification in 1956 year. Chen Xin-Hua №6 in 1987.

[@destodave]

Hello. Very good list of defenders! I would definitely agree with the best chopper of all time in Joo as he was consistently in the Top 15 and Top 10, but you have left one of the greatest of all time off this list! Li Gun Sang of North Korea. He was in the Top 10 players of the world and defeated many of the greatest players of all time. Make sure you add him to this list!

[@destodave]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4WpgHyqoauoq9U

[@garyfagan6431]

Did you forget Eberhard Scholar from Germany and a travesty to not include the great Japanese chopper Norio Takashima who was the top chopper in the world throughout the 70s.

[@MusicMyInspiration]

Right, if you speak of G.O.A.T. defenders, Eberhard Schöler definitely belongs on that list. Only defender who ever reached no. 2 in men singles world ranking to my knowledge.

[@TableTennisReport]

In my honest opinion i don't think players from the 60s (maybe even 70s) era should be counted in this list because game improved drastically over the last 30 years so it would be difficult to compare playstyles of todays players playing with ultra fast rubbers versus old school players of the 60s that played a much slower pace of game. That is of course only my opinion, i may be wrong 😅

[@pianosimus]

Every time has it own speed in Sports and its own Material, you can compare sportsman/woman of All times. .Eberhard Schöler was the greatest defender, he was top in international ranking.

[@garyfagan6431]

Istvanhh Joyner from the 1970s had a loop with 13800 RPM. Ma Long 6900. The choppers from the 60s and early 70s did not have the benefit of long pips. I believe players who are dominate in any Era have something to teach us. Ogimura , of Japan, plotted the course of Japanese table tennis long after he retired. Let's not denigrate former great players.

[@gfdggdfgdgf]

​@@TableTennisReportyeah a comment like this basically destroys your believability.

[@diegox.longpips]

Good video

[@bobbybintik]

Mantap bossku

[@ronaldmcdonald7891]

Whats your opinion to florian bluhm?

[@Republik-Pingpong-Tegal]

good table tennis video bro, greetings one hobby 🏓🏓🏓

[@andrewcavanagh3946]

Chen Xinhua won singles in the World Cup, played the pillar role on the Chinese team in 1985 beating Waldner and Lindh and was a world top 10 ranked player for many years. Easily the best defender of his era and one of the greatest defenders of all time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYm7ZJh7eZyjj6M

[@TableTennisReport]

Judging by their achievements it is clear that i should have included Chen Xinhua & Norio Takashima into the list. 😔

[@chosett]

Please do top 10 women defenders in table tennis, thank you.

[@gfdggdfgdgf]

I'm still convinced shiono was using an illegal/treated pips rubber when he peaked.

[@esmolol4091]

You forgot Aida Satoshi, a very talented double inverted rubber defender.

[@pukulu]

Norio Takashima was also a good one but he played a long time ago.

[@neilsmith9398]

I’ll second that. ‘Saw him at the 1977 world champs in Birmingham, England and was impressed.

[@benoitrey8168]

Adam pattantyus deserve a spot in this list My top 10 1: joo SH 2: chen weixing 3:hou Ying Chao 4:ruwen filus 5: Koji matsushita 6: gionis 7:ding song 8: pattantyus 9:syed 10: de saintilan

[@albertonicolasborgesaviles1196]

Faltan muchos: Li Gum Sang, nort korea, Gideo Goto Japan, Englember Huguin Germany

[@Enritsche]

it's Engelbert Hüging

[@albertonicolasborgesaviles1196]

You are forgetimg Chen Xin Hua y Norio Takashima

[@TableTennisReport]

I sure did, mistakes happen 😅

[@ralfbrodersen1839]

Nice video! But, top defenders of ALL TIME? Never ever! Where are Jaques Secretin, Eberhard Schöler and Engelbert Hüging?

[@harper626]

Is Adam Bobrow in top 20 defensive players?

[@johnbirkin89WS]

In top 2,000 maybe!

[@_LousiNess_]

No way near top 2000, indeed. ;)

[@kaizhangtabletennis]

I can’t believe you didn’t mention Wang Xi in at least honorable mentions.

[@TableTennisReport]

I was going to put either him or Wang Yang in the honorable mentions list, but due to the fact that Wang Xi isn't playing on a pro tour but he is great as well ✊

[@tobi1451]

think so too, as far as i know he was created as a copy/ practice partner for the chinese to practice against Joo, there is even one match in the internet somewhere where both play championsleague vs each other and Joo is shaking hid head multiple times becaue of the skills of wang quite funny, thx for the video

[@scandinaviangooner]

Where is the first Wang hao? Fantastic defender in early 90s

[@zammo54]

whhaaaaat no chen xin hua ? imho would be number 2 on this list

[@TableTennisReport]

I now see that i made a mistake, i totally forgot about Norio Takashima and Chen Xin Hua 😮‍💨

[@JimTDF]

Its "Evgeny Scheti'nin" - pronounced "sche-ti-nin" (begin with "sche" sound as in the first syllable of "shake"), then "tea", then "nin" (stress on "tea" syllable). Should be pretty simple once you say that out loud a couple of times.

[@TableTennisReport]

Thanks bro 😎

[@michaelhenry786]

QUESTION: Has anyone ever seen or heard of a world class left handed chopper?

[@aformal2]

Liu Song of Argentina

[@andreashacker181]

Chen Xinghua was the best (wins against Waldner, best Bundesligaplayer...)

[@hartonosiswono]

There should be Lu Yuan Sheng of China and Norio Takashima of Japan

[@jorgealameda]

Great video, the Buddhist monks of tennis table

[@weijuntsin9319]

you missed Chen Xinhua - the only mens single world champion in the last 30 years😂

[@Enritsche]

wrong. he never was. "only" world cup

[@andrewcavanagh3946]

@@Enritsche lol "only". The World Cup is one of the 3 grand slam events along with the World championships and the Olympics. Most consider world cup champions world champions.

[@Enritsche]

@@andrewcavanagh3946 your point was clear. that's why I quoted "only". the rest is still wrong. world champion is world champion. I don't care what others "consider". btw. 1985 was not in the last 30 years...

[@TableTennisReport]

As i said to Andrew Cavanagh, you are right, i should have included him as well 😬

[@weijuntsin9319]

@@Enritsche I don’t know how you guys determine “the world champion of TT”, but in China,generally speaking, the Olympic champion, the world championship champion and the World Cup champion all considered as a world champion. 1985 indeed was not in the last 30 years literally, but don't mean it😁

[@kobekobe2634]

Where are Li Gun-Sang and Chen XinHua ?

[@autarko]

Chtchetinine does not belong on this list. He never ever attacked. He gives me bad childhood memories of those old men with hard bats in local league division 4.

[@garylist9]

I could never beat my old dad with his barna style hardbat.....flippin impenetrable.

[@Felix-st2ue]

He is widely known to be probably the best defender worldwide when it comes to generating spin. Several professional players stated that it's crazy how much backspin he generates and how he varies it. And after all, he doesn't attack and isn't really quick at catching balls. So his success must come from somewhere else.

[@autarko]

@@Felix-st2ue Yes he must have been very good at disguising spin and utilised this to the max. However, he doesn't look to be in the same league as someone like Chen Xinhua.

[@drrichardwiesenhuber]

Ding Song!

[@robin0910]

It’s surprising that there’s no left handed player among them

[@HakuCell]

19:00 Joo SaeHyuk

[@bigredracingdog466]

Eberhard Schöler. He was the runner-up in the WC in 1969 and won the bronze medal in 1965 and 1967.

[@i.d.5568]

村松とフランジスカが良く対決してた時代が好き

[@93Djinn]

Mikael Appelgren for me

[@andreashacker181]

Xhen Xhinhua was the best. Eberhardt Schöler and Liang Geliang are other great defenders.

[@markwen1997]

Come on mate, you don't know how good ding song is. He is at least on par with joo sey hey. Just because ding didn't have big title doesn't mean he was average. At his peak time, he was as good as the super class players. Secondly hou ying chao is a very skilled player, might be #3 in the list. He beat primorac and lots of first class players, achieved Chinese national championship twice(in the second time beat Wang chuqing in the finals) - how many players can do that in your list?

[@karlx19]

Chen Xinhua 🤷‍♂️

[@sachinuchil8890]

How about you make a video involving Top women defenders ?

[@Schiisch]

I think Chtchetinine is pronounced "Shtshetininye"

[@user-es9vx2vm1w]

Where is Juanito ? 😀

[@ockroot]

Matthew Syed

[@chick19er]

How is Chen Xinhua not top or even on the list? He won the Table Tennis World Cup which brings together the top players from every continent. He was supposedly asked to throw his game in the 85 Worlds so that Jiang Jialang would win the event and he's beaten everybody in his era of note including Waldner! Big mistake to not have him at least number 2

[@TableTennisReport]

I agree with you, it was a mistake for not putting him in the list :( My lack of 80s knowledge is the reason for not putting him :D

[@helveciosilveira5439]

Where is Takashima? He was and is the number one forever.

[@rmqck]

i think, that i am the only viewer from Belarus))

[@bleak0218]

My favourite defender was Viktor Barna.

[@foxer.5269]

bro u forgot wang xi

[@eastcoastuk1120]

The PLASTIC ball ruined JOO SAE HYUK because of less spin. TOPSPIN gained enormously because of the plastic ball.

[@Felix-st2ue]

Well, he was quite old by then. Also, he has some illness. But yeah, defending hasn't got any easier.

[@johnbirkin89WS]

Why no ladies? Not good enough?

[@hokeekeng2166]

U are kidding there are others much much better.

[@TableTennisReport]

Care to give me your list? :)

[@hokeekeng2166]

​@@TableTennisReport In the whole video in your list, there is non a winner that won a Swaythling Cup in a world championship except ding song. (Not by sitting or carried). Chen Xin Hua kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4TQpH6BYsSEZsU is one of them. Else where kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4WpgHyqoauoq9U Li Gun-sang. This 2 is definitely a big miss in your video.

[@chaiinspace2]

Liang ge Liang en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liang_Geliang