BEIJING -- Wang Hao's unforgiving competitive streak and ability to refine an aggressive playing style is expected to help the world number one to finally win gold in the men's table tennis.
Ranked fourth at Athens, Wang eclipsed his Chinese team mates to make the singles final, only to lose to South Korea's Ryu Seung-min. While Ryu's recent form has slipped, Wang has got stronger and stronger.
The 24-year-old, who attacks with a fierce backhand, has been the world's top-ranked player since last October, exhibiting an unforgiving competitive streak.
A native of Changchun in northeast China, Wang began training at the age of nine, relatively late in China, and scored a spot on the national team just six years later.
The intense training encroached on his personal life four years ago when Fan Ying, a female player he had dated, was kicked off the national team. Cai Zhenhua, head coach at the time, said top players had to concentrate on preparing for the Olympics.
Wang thrills crowds with his precision at the table. He can go wide to serve from his forehand, enticing his opponent to play to his backhand, which he then returns down the line.
Wang also helped develop the Chinese penholder grip, which favours backhand drives, and each time opponents have begun to get the hang of it, he has refined his playing style.
"He has the most balanced techniques," Barcelona Olympic doubles champion Wang Tao told Reuters.
The question hanging over Wang, despite his progress, is how he will handle the weight of expectation when only gold will satisfy Chinese fans.
"He has grown mature, and has stepped out of the shadow of the defeat in Athens. What's more, he is in very good form."