Table tennis doubles may be dumped in 2008 By Xiao Yu (China Daily) Updated: 2004-08-24 06:22
In an effort to stop China from winning so many table tennis gold medals and
make the sport more of a crowd pleaser, the sport's governing body wants to drop
the doubles from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) plans to replace the pairs
with a team event.
"We have submitted an official proposal to the IOC regarding changes to be
made," ITTF president Adham Sharara said yesterday.
"A decision is expected in 2005 and we are optimistic that it will be a
positive one, provided the number of players and judges doesn't change."
 Gold medallists
Chen Qi and Ma Lin from China wave from the podium after the medal
ceremony for the men's doubles table tennis at the Athens 2004 Olympic
Games August 21, 2004. Chen Qi and Ma Lin defeated Ko Lai Chak and Li
Ching of Chinese Hong Kong 4-2 to win the gold.
[Reuters/file]
| China has won 16 of the 20
gold medals at the last five Olympics, including Athens, but there are concerns
their domination is unhealthy for the sport.
The Chinese invariably win two medals in most events, so a new rule change at
the Athens Olympics prevented players from the same ITTF member meeting in the
final.
Under the proposed rule change for the 2008 Games, China's medal count will
be reduced because countries will only be allowed to enter one team.
Sharara denied the changes were designed to stop China from winning, but
conceded that countries and regions needed to catch up with the nation.
To increase spectator interest, table tennis games have been cut to
first-to-11 from first-to-21, service rules have been improved and the ball has
been increased in size over the past four years.
The Chinese paddlers still remain the biggest winners at the Athens Games,
walking away with three out of four gold medals amid a huge challenge which cost
it the coveted men's singles title.
The Chinese paddlers proved that they are still the world's best, with Zhang
Yining/Wang Nan, Zhang Yining and Ma Lin/Chen Qi easily winning the women's
doubles, women's singles and men's doubles. They even did not drop a set in the
four finals against their different rivals.
The only pain came from the men's singles - an emotional third seed Ryu
Seung-min of South Korea spoiled China's third straight gold medal sweep which
dates back to 1996 Atlanta Games, outclassing China's Asian champion Wang Hao
4-2 in a thrilling 45-minute final.
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