Chinese table tennis chief confident about team's Olympics journey

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Chinese table tennis chief Liu Guoliang said that the upcoming World Championships is a great test for next year's Olympic Games, as the Chinese team have started practice sessions in Budapest on Friday.

"It's the best warmup opportunity before the Tokyo Olympics. Our players, coaches and staff will do their best. Hopefully we can have a good test on our team through the table tennis worlds, and make full preparation for the Olympics next year," Liu said.

"The significance of mixed doubles is increasing in terms of the Olympics preparation. We have dispatched our best mixed doubles combination for the table tennis worlds here," said Liu.

The World Table Tennis Championships will run from April 21 to 28.

"We have the chance of winning both gold medals in men's and women's singles, but for me, the women's team are more favorable in making that," assumed Liu.

"We'll see whether our young players in the men's side can perform stably in major international competitions, and it depends well on the draw due to their world rankings," he added.

Ma Long (R) of China and Kanak Jha of the United States during the practice section of the 2019 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest, Hungary, April 19, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

Meanwhile, Chinese paddlers have also practiced with their American counterparts in the Hungarian capital.

"It was a great honor to play Ma Long, obviously. He is the best player in the world. It's really fun, and great experience," said 18-year-old Kanak Jha following his half-hour practice with Grand Slam winner Ma Long.

"A little bit (nervous) in the beginning. He is one of my idols in table tennis," Jha added.

Chinese Table Tennis Association President Liu Guoliang (front L) and Dragomir Cioroslan (front R), representative of the United States Olympic Committee, pose for a photo with the players after the practice section in Budapest, Hungary, April 19, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

"2021 will mark the 50th anniversary of 'Ping-Pong Diplomacy' between the two nations, and 2022 will witness the 50th anniversary of Chinese team's visit to the United States. It's a good idea to connect table tennis and the friendship between the two countries," commented Liu Guoliang

America's Houston and China's Chengdu are in the bid for the 2021 and 2022 World Championships, respectively.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency