Chinese ready for table tennis worlds title sweep

"Although no one has imposed any specific target of gold medals on us, we are looking forward to another world championships glory," said the head coach of Chinese men's team Liu Guoliang, who will lead a 12-strong squad to the May 21-27 tournament alongside Shi Zhihao and his 12-player women's squad.

The Chinese men's and women's teams had just returned from a pre-worlds camp and both coaches said Tuesday at a news conference that the players had gained confidence from the 35-day-long training.

"We have done a good job in preparing for the world championships, selecting best players through three open trials and making thorough studies on possible title competitors," said Liu.

Nine players from the men's squad and 10 from the women's, out of 12 each, have been selected from a series of trials, which were vividly called "express train to Zagreb", before and during the training camp.

According to the selecting rules, all the established players including world champions Wang Liqin and Zhang Yining had to vie against young teammates for a world championships berth.

"The trials ensured that the world championships tickets were handed to those who deserves it. It's a fairer way than the previous method in which coaches handpick the players," commented Liu.

"But it'll be the last time that China's table tennis team drives a 'express train' in selecting a squad for a world-class event before the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008," he added.

The Chinese team for the first time used the open trials before the Bremen world team championships last year.

"There will be only three men's and three women's players from each association to play the singles and team events of the table tennis tournament in the Beijing Olympic Games. It will be irrational if we give some players Olympic berths just according to results of one or two trials," Liu added.

According to the 31-year-old coach, all his 12 men have done an excellent preparation for the upcoming worlds.

"Veteran Wang Liqin and teenage sensation Ma Long kept good form throughout the training, while four-time World Cup winner Ma Lin and Olympic silver medalist Wang Hao had been up and down but they concluded the training in good shape," said Liu.

"And for the selection of defensive player Hou Yingchao, we hope he will turn out as a secret weapon," he added.

On the women's part, head coach Shi Zhihao said all players were in a normal state except top-rated Zhang Yining who suffered a slight groin strain.

"Zhang had been widely criticized for her low play, as she had missed the Doha Asian Games in December before making a poor performance early this year and failing to make final at any of the four Pro-tour Opens.

"But the worst time had passed, and Zhang will stand tall again at the worlds," said Shi.

To foresee the competitions at the worlds, both Liu and Shi agreed that South Koreans would pose the most challenges for China's title defending campaign.

"The men's singles event will show the hardest play among world powerhouses. The top 50 players on the world men's singles rankings will all be threatening," said Liu.

He listed seven players as Chinese men's strongest rivals, which includes Oh Sang En and Ryu Seung Min, both of South Korea, triple European champion Timo Boll of Germany and former world champion Werner Schlager of Austria.

The women's coach Shi Zhihao also rated South Korea the biggest threats.

He said: "South Koreans are strong on both men's and women's events. Defensive player Kim Kyung Ah, South Korea's best female paddler, has won over nearly every Chinese except Zhang Yining, and her partnership with Kim Bok Rae is the best women's doubles pair outside of China."

Liu and Shi also mentioned Hong Kong of China, Chinese Taipei and Singapore as threats to their charges.

"As the defending champions, Chinese players have been well-studied by all rivals. What we can do is to stay cautious and play our own games," said Liu.