China unhappy with small TT playing areas
Print Edition
China鈥檚 table tennis chief yesterday said the 鈥渟maller than usual鈥 size of the playing areas may affect players鈥 performance and safety, in his latest complaints about the Tokyo Olympics.
China has won 28 of the 32 table tennis titles awarded at the Olympics, dominating a sport in a way that has rarely been matched.
But the lead-up to the pandemic-delayed Games has thrown up several challenges, from inconsistent form among China鈥檚 top players to new rules to stop the coronavirus spreading.
鈥淭he whole playing space is smaller than usual... world competitions normally have areas measuring seven by 14 meters... I just measured it at six by 11 meters,鈥 Chinese Table Tennis Association president Liu Guoliang told state broadcaster CCTV. 鈥淚鈥檓 a little worried about the athletes鈥 running and safety. It鈥檚 quite different from before.鈥
Players on the team also voiced concerns.
鈥淲e have been noticing the size of the playing area throughout. Several side serves hit the screen board (at the side of the court) and we were slightly affected,鈥 men鈥檚 player Xu Xin told CCTV.
The trending hashtag 鈥淟iu Guoliang uses his foot length to measure the Olympic venue鈥 gained 250 million views on social media site Weibo.
Liu previously complained about what he viewed as the Tokyo Olympics鈥 excessive virus prevention measures which made the team鈥檚 preparations 鈥渆xtremely difficult.鈥
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 expect some epidemic rules like not wiping the game table with your hand, or blowing (on the ball),鈥 he told CCTV last week.
Last week, the Chinese sailing team also complained of poor pandemic prevention measures at their hotel, saying competitors were forced to mix with other guests.
China鈥檚 six-member table tennis squad this year includes reigning Olympic champion Ma Long and world No. 1 Fan Zhendong in the men鈥檚 singles, while world champion Liu Shiwen will play the mixed doubles and women鈥檚 team events.
Fierce rival Japan is counting on home advantage and some notably strong players 鈥 raising fears that the Chinese team might not have it all its way in Tokyo.
Elsewhere, China鈥檚 women鈥檚 volleyball coach Jenny Lang Ping is not banking on a repeat performance of their gold medal win in 2016 as she attempts to lead her country to back-to-back Olympic success in Tokyo. Lang steered the Chinese to their first Olympic title in 12 years in Rio.
鈥淲e are not going to defend the title, we are here to fight hard for the title,鈥 she told Xinhua news agency. 鈥淭hings have changed a lot since the 2016 Rio Games and our opponents have improved a lot. We can take nothing for granted.鈥
China will also face Turkey, the United States, Russia, Italy and Argentina, with the top four teams in the group advancing to the quarterfinals.
鈥淎ll the teams are going to do their best at the Olympic Games, we have to be fully prepared for all kinds of difficulties,鈥 she said.
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