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United News of India
20-05-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
China protests over damaged racket, ITTF pledges probe
DOHA, May 20 (UNI) The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has pledged to investigate into a "racket incident" at the World Table Tennis Championships after China lodged a formal complaint. "We will thoroughly investigate into this matter and publish a report when the probe is concluded," said an ITTF official who asked not to be named. Chinese player Wang Chuqin had to change his racket after his equipment was allegedly mishandled and went on to win a mixed doubles second round game with Sun Yingsha here on Monday afternoon. Minutes before the Chinese duo took on Brazil's Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi, Wang found part of the rubber had come off his blade, and China coach Xiao Zhan questioned the umpire if anyone had mishandled Wang's racket. The umpire answered that no one had intentionally torn the rubber and allowed Wang to use his backup racket. Wang complained in a Migu TV interview that something bad always happened to him in major international events including the Paris Olympics, where his racket was accidentally broken by photographers rushing to capture the moment after Wang and Sun won Olympic gold. According to an ITTF statement, a special meeting was held between the ITTF and the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) Monday night, attended by CTTA president Wang Liqin, CTTA secretary general He Xiao, the ITTF competition team, the referee team, and the chief of the racket inspection team. Wang Liqin protested and appealed regarding the damaged racket, requested surveillance footage to be reviewed, and demanded an investigation into the cause of the incident. To prevent similar incidents, CTTA proposed three suggestions, to which the ITTF responded individually. CTTA hopes that following this incident, staff will accompany the racket inspection process throughout to ensure no unauthorized personnel can handle the inspected rackets. The ITTF stated that according to the event rules, each team is allowed to have one staff member accompany the process. The ITTF mentioned that after the incident, they promptly requested the organizing committee to provide A4-sized envelopes and instructed all referees to handle rackets carefully during their work. They also emphasized that the operation procedures of the racket inspection team were correct. UNI XINHUA AKT
South China Morning Post
26-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Ex-Chinese table tennis head Liu Guoliang tipped to leave federation role to focus on WTT
Outgoing China table tennis chief Liu Guoliang could also be about to leave his position as the deputy president of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and focus on his role in further developing World Table Tennis (WTT) professional events. Advertisement Before handing his baton at the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) to Wang Liqin on Wednesday, Liu – a multiple Olympic and World Championships winner – was also the chairman of the WTT Council. But according to Chinese media, the 49-year-old could leave his ITTF role to focus solely on his WTT duties. Liu is said to want to elevate table tennis' commercial events to a level comparable to the four grand slams of tennis, to attract more sponsors and fans, to raise more income through gate receipts and live broadcast rights, and to ultimately allow athletes to receive high appearance fees and bonuses. He said on Wednesday, after the announcement of his stepping down from CTTA: 'I've always believed table tennis deserves a bigger stage, a broader voice and a more connected future. My time at CTTA was about building strength at home, but my passion has always extended beyond borders. Liu Guoliang wants to raise table tennis' profile to the level of tennis' grand slams. Photo: Xinhua 'In my international roles, I now have the opportunity to focus on growing the sport globally, bringing it to new audiences, empowering new talents, and elevating how the world experiences table tennis, whilst also showing to the world the charm of my country, China.
South China Morning Post
26-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Departure of table tennis chief comes at a critical time
China's love of table tennis, a sport deeply embedded in the country's history and culture, cannot be overstated. The medal-winning feats of star players are a source of national pride. Advertisement The sudden resignation of the mainland's table tennis chief has, therefore, understandably prompted much reflection on the future development of the sport in China. Liu Guoliang, who stepped down as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) on Wednesday, has been a prominent figure since emerging as a talented player in his teens. As national team coach he guided Chinese players to nine Olympic gold medals out of a possible 10. He was elected head of the CTTA in 2018 and re-elected in 2023. Liu said he had decided to step down, midterm, to ensure the new leadership has adequate time to prepare for the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. The aim is to ensure a smooth transition. But his departure comes at a critical time, only three days after the nation's men failed to win the ITTF World Cup singles in Macau. Advertisement The shock defeat suffered by world number one Lin Shidong to a Brazilian rival left fans in despair and calling for change.
South China Morning Post
25-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Fan Zhendong expected back in action soon, after naming of ‘mentor' Wang Liqin as CTTA head
The election of Wang Liqin as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) means Olympic champion Fan Zhendong's return to the national team could be just a matter of time, sport insiders believe. Advertisement Fan has not played since winning singles and team gold in Paris last year, and withdrew from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings in late December. But the appointment of Wang, who is said to be a mentor-like figure to Fan, is expected to bring the 28-year-old back to the table after the two struck up a relationship in 2022. Having played twice for the People's Liberation Army Bayi team at the National Games in 2013 and 2017, Fan switched to play for Guangdong in 2021 after the Bayi team was disbanded. In 2022, mainland Chinese media reported that Fan had struck a deal to represent Shanghai, and Wang was said to have played a crucial role in the move. Former player Wang Liqin was elected chairman of the CTTA on Wednesday. Photo: IC photo Wang revealed then that he reached out to Fan as soon as the Bayi team was disbanded in late 2020, and both parties reached an agreement about the switch.
South China Morning Post
23-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese table tennis chief Liu Guoliang resigns, replaced by Olympic champion Wang Liqin
Liu Guoliang has resigned as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA), with CTTA vice-president Wang Liqin elected the organisation's new chief on Wednesday. Advertisement Having achieved a career singles grand slam of Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup, Liu was appointed chief coach of China's national team in 2013, leading the team to a sweep of four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He was first elected CTTA president in 2018, and re-elected in 2023. During his tenure, China claimed nine of 10 Olympic gold medals in table tennis at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Wang, 46, is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time World Championships singles winner. Retiring from the national team in 2013, he has served as CTTA vice-president since 2018. Liu quit two days after the CTTA named the country's squad for next month's ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Qatar. Wang Chuqin will lead China's charge at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals. Photo: Xinhua Wang Chuqin, Lin Shidong, Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu will lead a star-studded cast that also includes the likes of Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan and Xue Fei in the men's team.
