SPORTS> China
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SPORTS> China
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Star paddler may escape punishment
By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-15 09:29 "It's not as serious as reports said. Both sides just over-reacted a bit," said Bayi coach Wang Tao, also a former world champion. "Wang Hao was so regretful afterwards. He apologized to the person involved and also to the fans. I hope we continue to support him." Further concerns
The National team and Bayi club's attitudes suggest Wang will escape harsh punishment, increasing concerns among media and fans of a new generation of spoiled players. It's not the first drunken scandal involving China's table tennis stars. In 2006, world champion and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Kong Linghui crashed his Porsche Boxster into a Beijing taxi cab at 3:30 am. Two women were also in the car at the time but no one was reported injured. Police who arrived at the scene detained Kong for drunk driving, suspended his license for six months and fined him 1,800 yuan ($263). But Kong was not punished or fined by the national team and later became women's team coach. Late last year, men's head coach Liu, also a multiple world and Olympic title winner, and his players were exposed drinking together in an online video in which Liu slapped teen player Hao Shuai. |
