SPORTS> China
Chief: Paddle sweep a 'failure' for China
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-07 15:59

A chief official from the China State General Administration of Sport (SGAS) has claimed the national team's overwhelming dominance at the recent Table Tennis World Championships only represents a "failure" to develop the sport internationally.

Chief: Paddle sweep a 'failure' for China
The team bagged every title on offer at the championships, which ended on Tuesday, after each final was an all-Chinese affair.

"The truth is we failed again (to help develop the world's overall level)," said Cai Zhenhua, the deputy director of SGAS and also the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association.

Cai insisted China should take responsibility to revive the sport globally.

"I know some Chinese people do not understand why we should do this and fear China will be challenged one day.

"But it definitely does no good to the sport's future if all the major titles in international tournaments are pocketed by Chinese."

China's dominance was even more pronounced at the latest worlds where the team swept 17 of the 20 medals in all five events.

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Just three bronze medals were won by non-Chinese, Japan's Jun Mizutani/Seiya Kishikawa in the men's doubles and Jiang Huajun/Tie Yana of Hong Kong and Kim Kyung-Ah/Park Mi-Young of Korea in the women's version.

Cai said if table tennis was to thrive globally, China must help other countries raise their game.

"We should help popularize table tennis and raise the standard of play worldwide, not only in China. I don't want only China to enjoy table tennis, I hope the whole world will enjoy it.

"It's our duty to offer the secret of our success to the world," he added.

Cai confirmed China would send national coaches to instruct overseas players.

Media elements slammed this as a "plan to raise wolves" but Cai disagreed with the sentiment.

"It does not make sense. From my point of view, China needs more strong opponents right now because it will make the sport competitive and interesting."

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