Ding and Liu to miss Olympic test run

"The Tokyo Olympics postponement has affected everyone's preparation. We have trained for five months, which had a huge impact on our veterans. They have laid out a specific plan about training and adjustment over the coming days," said women's team head coach Li Sun.

Liu misses out due to an elbow injury. "She has recently undergone surgery and is in the rehab process," Li said of Liu, adding that the team will spare no effort in helping the players through these setbacks.

Li added the test run's overall level is even higher than the Olympics. "Hopefully everyone can take it as the real Olympic Games, especially for our young athletes, who can fully showcase themselves in the absence of the two veterans," she said.

More cancellations

Meanwhile, the ITTF's executive committee has decided to extend the suspension of all ITTF events until the end of August due to ongoing difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ITTF World Tour Czech Open, originally scheduled for Aug 25-30 in Olomouc, has been canceled after the ITTF and Czech Table Tennis Association thought it impossible to stage the event amid ongoing travel restrictions and potential risks to health and safety of participants.

The world governing body also said that the World Tour Hong Kong Open, originally scheduled for May 5-10, will not be going ahead because travel restrictions have made it impossible to reschedule the event in 2020.

The ITTF also continues to explore the possibility of holding alternative events for the final months of 2020, in case the pandemic does not allow the full staging of open international events as planned.

Xinhua