Boll: China still setting the bar

But Germany's world No 4 says gap is closing at top of rankings

BERLIN - China still rules the table tennis world despite recent setbacks, according to renowned German paddler Timo Boll.

An all-German final between Boll and eventual winner Dimitrij Ovtcharov at last month's World Cup in Liege, Belgium, led some to wonder if a changing of the guard was taking place in the sport.