China to pardon shunned athletes for Games
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-17 19:25

This week, Li Yuanwei, director of the China Basketball Administration Center, went to the United States, in part to meet 2.16 meter (7 ft 1 inch) forward-center Wang Zhizhi and talk about his returning to the national team, the report said.

Wang, the first Chinese to play in the U.S. National Basketball Association, was expelled from the national squad in 2002 for refusing to join them at the World Championships and other events that year.

"The China Basketball Association's stance has always been that the door to the team can open any time to Wang Zhizhi. This time, we hope he will take action," Basketball Administration Center vice director Hu Jiashi was quoted as saying.

Chinese sports authorities' obsession with glory in 2008 also explains the recent reconciliation between the tennis team and promising young player Peng Shuai, who had complained of being stifled and talked of breaking out on her own.

On Thursday, she publicly pledged to stay with the national squad and focus on the Beijing Games.

Team mate Li Na has also complained that the national system was holding her back, but continues to play with the squad.

Chinese sports officials have repeatedly said the country is unlikely to repeat its Athens haul of 32 golds in 2008.

But state media and national coaches have made far bolder predictions and by most indications China appears determined to top the medals table when the Games come to Beijing.