NABC Chapter 58 Higher
Chapter 58 Higher
"9:11!"
The student acting as referee was stunned for two and a half seconds before snapping out of it and flipping the scoreboard.
She didn't even see how the ball landed. She only saw that Wang Luo's return shot was in mid-air when Lin Xiang flicked his wrist and the ball disappeared!
That's terrifying explosive power! Is that wrist made of iron?
"oh!"
The audience erupted in cheers.
Unlike the praise for a "good shot," the comments at this moment were more of an exclamation of "Holy crap, is that even possible?"
"Hiss..." Wang Luo gasped as he came to his senses.
Lin Xiang's condition is much better than he expected!
The reason I followed up in the first half of the game wasn't because I was physically exhausted, but because I deliberately slowed down to read his tactics!
"despair"
On the next ball, Wang Luo decisively accelerated and rushed to the net when receiving the serve.
Faced with Lin Xiang's perfectly timed and deep lob shot, he also chose to jump with both feet and smash with all his might, not giving Lin Xiang a chance to take the initiative.
Lin Xiang made a solid block at the net, and Wang Luo took two steps, rushed forward, and then flicked the ball, finally forcing a half-court opportunity, which he then scored with a powerful smash.
12:9.
"call!"
Wang Luo clenched his fist and adjusted his slightly rapid breathing.
"Wait a minute, why is Xiao Wang suddenly accelerating without thinking?!"
In the distant stands, Deng Ziyang slammed his hand on the railing, his focused eyes now filled with urgency: "The tactics in the first half were fine! Let's execute the tactics and win the game first!"
Ling Ye shook his head: "I can't get it."
Deng Ziyang asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Ling Ye glanced at him: "It's useless now."
On the other side of the stands.
Faced with the same question from Jin Xin and Shi Yuqi, Wang Tianmao chuckled and made a gesture of hooking back.
"The turning point was the 8-7 score."
As usual, Xiao Wang gave Lin Xiang a shot down the middle, but Lin Xiang didn't push or flick the ball away. Instead, he quickly flicked it to the small diagonal corner in front of the net.
In this way, the ball moved from the center of the field to the edge of the field. The running pressure in all four directions was originally uniform, but now there is a direction with significantly greater running pressure.
Positions are reciprocal; Lin Xiang increased his own running burden in exchange for the same burden being applied to Xiao Wang.
The short cross-court shot, in terms of both ball speed and net contact, is inferior to the wide cross-court shot, allowing the opponent to push comfortably. At this point, Xiao Wang still appears to have the upper hand.
However, Lin Xiang had already gained a psychological advantage through previous matches and was therefore prepared for his attack. In fact, if Xiao Wang's shot hadn't grazed the net, Lin Xiang would have already tied the score.
Shi Yuqi suddenly realized, "No wonder he looked so flustered even though he had clearly won..."
"That's right, experts have a very strong sense of crisis."
Wang Tianmao continued his explanation.
"But even at this point, Xiao Wang still harbored a glimmer of hope, wanting to shake off Lin Xiang by increasing his speed while keeping the tactics unchanged."
However, Lin Xiang's rhythm control was clearly more sophisticated, conserving his energy until the break. As a result, the momentum on the court shifted from one side to the other, and the balance of power was about to be reversed.
Xiao Wang realized this, so he wanted to speed things up and win the first game, not giving Lin Xiang a chance to catch up. Otherwise, if Lin Xiang won the first game, the chances of winning later would be very slim.
Jin Xin was deeply shocked by what he heard.
Unexpectedly, the two had gone through so many rounds of maneuvering in just a few minutes.
Surprisingly, the seemingly aggressive attacker was actually at a disadvantage.
"So who do you think will win this round?"
"Haha, I'm not a fortune teller! How would I know? Some players even like to deliberately let the first game go!"
Wang Tianmao first laughed heartily, then looked at Lin Xiang on the field, seemingly lost in thought.
"Based on the current situation, it's Lin Xiang, right?"
"As expected, Teacher Lin is even more capable."
"It's not all about skill, his condition also plays a role... Strange, how did he fight so fast? I've never seen him in such good condition before. This is the only thing that surprised me."
Wang Tianmao touched the back of his bald head.
"He wasn't like this in the semifinals either, do you two have any clues?"
Jin Xin shook his head blankly, with an expression that said, "You're asking me? Who should I ask?"
Shi Yuqi turned her head away. Perhaps because it was too hot in the stadium, her face looked a little red.
*Smack!*
Facing Lin Xiang's lob shot, Wang Luo once again unleashed a powerful straight smash, attempting to replicate his previous strategy and break through Lin Xiang's defense.
Even if we can't score directly, as long as we can force him to reveal a weakness, that's good enough!
One shot after another, in a continuous flow, there's always a chance to end it!
However, he was met with Lin Xiang's devastating defense.
Faced with this smash that had an instantaneous speed of over 300 kilometers per hour, Lin Xiang simply extended his racket with the lightness of a flying swallow, deflecting the immense force of the ball and deflecting it just over the net.
It was another prediction!
Wang Luo's eyes widened. Without even thinking about how Lin Xiang did it, he immediately stepped forward to flick the ball.
Fortunately, he had already figured out Lin Xiang's defense in their previous encounters, so the current situation was not unexpected.
Just acknowledge that you're being forced to cross the ball, and then play a solid defense.
But the moment he flicked the ball, Lin Xiang accelerated and retreated to the outside of the baseline, leaping high into the air, his mouth even slightly crooked.
Unexpectedly, Lin Xiang even attacked such a well-placed ball. Wang Luo quickly lowered his center of gravity to defend, but what awaited him was not a powerful smash from above, but a strange and swift flat high ball.
"Smack!!!"
By the time Wang Luo reacted to the sharp sound of the shuttlecock hitting the ball, it had already flown over his head and was heading towards the baseline in the forehand area.
He quickly retreated to the net, but Lin Xiang had already rushed to the net and swung his racket down—
"Thump!"
Under Wang Luo's watchful eye, the badminton shuttlecock slid all the way out of the court.
12: 10!
From that point on, the momentum on the field completely reversed.
12:15……12:18……
"21:12! Lin Xiang wins!"
When the results were announced, the referee's classmate's voice trembled.
What does it mean to only allow the opponent one point in the entire second half of the game? Every shot was taken with absolute dominance, every ball combined surgical precision with overwhelming pressure... and the opponent was Wang Luo!
Similarly, he swept through the lower half of the bracket, demonstrating steady dominance against all kinds of strong opponents, and is regarded as a future star of the Badminton High School League.
I never expected to be beaten like this in the finals!
If before everyone was only surprised and expectant of Lin Xiang, at this moment, all that remains is shock.
"So, as expected, we still couldn't win the first game..."
During the break, Wang Luo calmly reviewed everything that had just happened.
As someone who witnessed everything firsthand, no one knew better than him what had happened on the field.
He watched helplessly as the score gap widened rapidly, trying every possible tactical change, but he was powerless to alter the situation. Lin Xiang completely overwhelmed him in both tactics and speed.
However, unlike his previous opponents, Wang Luo was not at his wit's end.
On the contrary, due to the low energy expenditure in the semi-finals, even if he speeds up the pace of the game, he still has the ability to fight again.
Such a fierce attack undoubtedly took a huge toll on Lin Xiang.
Based on his experience playing against Lin Xiang, Lin Xiang is unlikely to maintain this form in the second game.
If he can maintain the form he showed in the first game, he has a chance to catch up or even turn the tide in the second game.
"Just hold on! Even if it's just one more header!"
Wang Luo cleared his mind of distractions and stepped back onto the court with this thought in mind.
"The second game is about to begin. Both players, please prepare!"
Entering the second round, Wang Luo adjusted his strategy.
While maintaining high speed, they abandoned the initiative to attack and instead used various high-speed pushes and flicks to force Lin Xiang to attack first.
It may seem like a show of weakness, but it's actually a form of coercion: if you dare not attack, I will immediately retaliate!
Because Wang Luo is a well-rounded player, possessing the best defense on the team as well as a sharp attack, once he seizes an opportunity in a stalemate, even Lin Xiang cannot easily defend against him.
In singles events, the defensive side expends far less energy than the offensive side!
"Eee-ya!"
"Smack!!!"
As the match intensified, each time Lin Xiang smashed a ball, someone in the audience would provide a soundtrack.
Wang Luo always managed to defuse the situation steadily, leaving Lin Xiang with no openings, which was truly impressive.
2:3……6:5……7:8……比分交替上升，谁也难以取得稳固的领先优势。
Every shot is a multi-shot, and every ball involves a large number of offensive and defensive transitions.
Lin Xiang's powerful smash was blocked by Wang Luo into a beautiful cross-court shot, while Lin Xiang immediately made a two-step quick move to flick the ball into the net;
Lin Xiang's attack was neutralized, and he attempted a defensive lob, only to be directly penetrated by Wang Luo's cross-court combination punches;
There are also instances where one side's attack is skillfully thwarted by the opponent, allowing them to calmly transition into a defensive rhythm, find an opportunity within that defense to turn the tide again, and ultimately relentlessly devour the opponent's winning position...
In the guest seats, Chen Zaiyou had long forgotten to comment, immersed in this high-level competition.
He originally thought that after the intense clashes in the first game, the pace of the second game would ease up, but to his surprise, the second game not only did not ease up, but became even more intense!
However, to Chen Zaiyou's slight surprise, Lin Xiang did not adjust his tactics, but instead persisted in his offensive strategy, with every shot aimed directly at the vital points.
Lin Xiang, who fought his way to the finals, is now competing in speed with Wang Luo, who is waiting in comfort!
They were not at all at a disadvantage!
Whether viewed from a technical and tactical perspective or from the clash of mentality between the two sides, this was a rare and exciting match.
If he were sitting in the audience right now, he would probably be shouting even louder than these students.
"Junior, there's no need to play so fast..."
Shiyuki was the only one who didn't cheer.
Looking at Lin Xiang, who was sweating profusely, the girl felt not only shock but also a strange sense of heartache.
"We're already exhausted from the previous games, so it's okay to adjust our tactics for the second game..."
"From a tactical perspective, your idea is the most reasonable. But badminton has never been a purely rational competition."
On-field mentality and morale are also very important factors.
Lin Xiang didn't want to let Wang Luo regain his morale, nor did he want his own morale to be worn down, so he decided to take the victory in one fell swoop.
As the ancients said, conquering cities is inferior; conquering hearts is superior.
This involves more than just ability and skill; it also requires the willpower and character of both parties.
15: 15.
"Huff... huff..."
Just before serving, Wang Luo raised his elbow to wipe the sweat from his face, but his arm was already covered in sweat. Instead of making his vision clearer, the sweat got into his eyes, making him feel even more uncomfortable.
It shouldn't be like this.
He was certain that Lin Xiang, on the other side, had exerted himself more intensely than him, both before and during the match.
If he hadn't actually seen Lin Xiang sweating profusely, clearly not handling things with ease, he would have doubted that Lin Xiang was tired at all.
So it shouldn't be like this!
In his impression, Lin Xiang has always been a very smart and rational opponent. Faced with his obvious intention to speed up in the second game, shouldn't Lin Xiang have tried to slow down, avoid his sharp edge, or even tactically give up?
At this moment, what Wang Luo felt from Lin Xiang was an unprecedented level of toughness.
This toughness has nothing to do with the score—it's an absolute strength that leaves no opening no matter how the game is played.
"Snapped!"
"despair--"
*Smack!*
Using Wang Luo's net play as a shield, Lin Xiang launched a counter-attack. In the midst of the clash, the shuttlecock broke through Wang Luo's middle and passed under his armpit.
16: 15!
Lin Xiang's offensive continued fiercely, but Wang Luo's defense finally began to loosen.
18: 16!
20-17!!
In several exchanges of shots, both sides had their wins and losses. But with a tougher playing style and more determined spirit, Lin Xiang was the first to reach match point.
"despair"
Even at the last moment, Wang Luo showed no signs of faltering; his eyes remained focused, and his passes remained reasonable and calm.
*Smack!*
Facing Lin Xiang's quick push to the baseline, Wang Luo decisively retreated and returned with a straight, high ball.
At this moment, Lin Xiang was still in the forehand area, and this straight high shot could be said to have attacked the gap in Lin Xiang's backhand area; however, to Wang Luo's surprise, Lin Xiang directly jumped up and with a wrist movement, intercepted the ball like a plundering bird!
"Thump!"
Although it was a penalty kick, the force of the shot was incredibly heavy.
Although Wang Luo had anticipated this, he still felt a tingling sensation in his hand when he received the ball, as if he had been electrocuted.
The quality of this defensive shot wasn't bad; the ball was only slightly higher than the net.
However, Lin Xiang immediately lunged to the net, like a swordsman making a desperate gamble, resolutely thrusting his racket forward—
"Snapped!"
The last ball finally landed.
The silence that followed was followed by thunderous applause.
Amidst the deafening noise that filled the entire stadium, Wang Luo shook his head and walked to the net with a helpless smile.
"Your performance today was impeccable; I am completely convinced."
Lin Xiang did not respond indifferently as usual. Instead, he held his hand tightly, nodded slightly, and took deep breaths, as if he had been diving for a long time and had returned to shore.
"……Thanks."
After calming his breathing, he said softly.
"You're welcome, it's an honor. Enjoy your victory!"
Wang Luo smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and walked off the court.
Lin Xiang slowly turned around.
The stadium was packed with people, and the cheers were deafening; his gaze swept through the crowd and landed on the girl without a moment's hesitation or confusion.
Shi Yuqi was also stunned for a moment by the stare.
"Old... Lin Xiang, next up is the champion interview segment."
Xu Yue walked onto the court with a microphone in hand.
"Your path to the finals is widely considered to have been the most arduous and valuable. And today in the finals, you even defeated Wang Luo, the biggest favorite to win the championship before the competition."
I heard your goal is to continuously improve and one day participate in the Badminton High School League, or even a higher stage. Now you are undoubtedly one step closer to that goal!
So, what do you have to say about this?
"I didn't think that far ahead today."
Lin Xiang took the microphone.
"Before I stepped onto the court, all I had in mind was today's game; once the game started, all I had in mind was every single point and every single ball."
"Since entering Xiangda University, I have received help from many people, among whom Senior Sister Shi Yuqi has given me tremendous support. She follows every one of my matches. Including the final just now, I know she was sitting there cheering me on the whole time."
So I want everyone to know that my senior made the right choice.
I want to prove through every game that Lin Xiang, despite being an academically inclined student, can still achieve great things.
"Huh?"
Shi Yuqi never expected that she would get caught up in the gossip herself.
To her even greater surprise, a spotlight shone on her amidst enthusiastic applause.
All eyes in the room immediately turned to them.
"Waaah..."
The girl made a puppy-like sound and covered her face with her hands. Just by the burning sensation, you could tell that her cheeks were as red as tomatoes.
Junior! Don't say just anything!
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