List of Chinese Olympic table tennis players released

(BEIJING, June 17) -- The Chinese table tennis team officially announced on June 17 the list of table tennis players to compete in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. On the list are male players Wang Hao, Ma Lin, and Wang Linqin, as well as female players Zhang Yining, Wang Nan, and Guo Yue.

Chen Qi (male) and Li Xiaoxia (female) are also on the list. They will serve as substitutes for the team events, according to the new substitute policy issued by the IOC.

Based on IOC regulations for the table tennis event, the top 20 athletes in the world, according to January 2008 rankings, automatically qualify for the Olympic Games. Each country or region may not send more than two players.

Wang Hao and Ma Lin are ranked first and second in the world for men's table tennis. Their compatriots Zhang Yining and Guo Yue occupy the first two places on the women's side. Therefore, there was no question as to which four players would represent China in the 2008 Olympic Games.

The other two Chinese paddlers, Wang Liqin and Wang Nan, obtained competition qualifications after they won the Asia Zone Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The list of substitutes is not final, and will be confirmed before July 23, said Liu Fengyan, director of the Table Tennis and Badminton Center.