Chinese table tennis team hopes for gold medal sweep at Beijing Games

(BEIJING, June 20) -- The Chinese national table tennis team is heading to Zhengding tomorrow for their last round of intensive training before the final battle: the Beijing Olympic Games. There, the Chinese athletes intend to claim all four gold medals in the event. The six selected players and their two substitutes are all trying their best to uphold the honor of their country.

The men’s singles is the most competitive of all the table tennis events. This is where the dark horses usually take everyone by surprise. It is also the only event where the Chinese have allowed other countries to push them off the top podium more than once. Since table tennis became an officially recognized Olympic sport, China has taken every gold medal in every event except the women’s doubles (lost in 1988) and men’s singles. In the latter competition, China has lost the gold three times, one of which was in the very recent past.

Wang Hao, currently ranked No. 1 on the ITTF men’s world ranking list, is one of the most powerful competitors for this event. In Athens, he lost his game in the final of the men’s singles to Ryu Seung Min, who is now eighth on the world ranking list. Hopefully this time, Wang can compensate for his loss by winning a gold medal in Beijing.

Ma Lin, in second place in the world rankings, is also a very talented and strong contestant for the highest spot on the podium. He stood out most prominently in the ITTF Pro Tour and World Cups, as well as the Tournament Championships. Yet he never succeeded in earning a gold in the World Championships or in any Olympic Games. He will try his very best to prove himself in the coming Olympic Games.

Wang Liqin, the most famous name in the men’s singles, is now experiencing one of the lowest periods of his career. Nevertheless, he is still a very promising gold medal contender and the most dependable player on the Chinese team, considering his extraordinary skills and his numerous international match experiences.

The substitute for the men’s team is Chen Qi, who is in the sixth position on the men’s singles standings. He beat teammate Ma Long, who is ranked two places higher than him, to win this qualification due to his better mental state and better men’s double skills, as well as his more abundant experience.

Compared with the men, the women’s team is under much better circumstances. The overwhelming dominance of the Chinese women’s team is not easily challenged. Zhang Yining, the No.1 female table tennis player in the world has regained her former glamour and fierceness, though she is troubled by her hand injury, which, according her coach, won’t be much of a problem in the upcoming events. Guo Yan, though only 20 years old, has already competed in the 2004 Olympic Games. She is now in second place in the world rankings. Wang Nan, long considered an icon for the Chinese women’s team, is still trusted by her teammates and coaches to perform well in her third Olympics Games despite her age and recent setbacks. The back-up player for the women’s team is Li Xiaoxia, currently ranked third in the world rankings. Although she has proven herself to be a very favorable candidate for the Olympic Games through her outstanding performance in the past few months, she was selected as a substitute because of her inexperience.