Liu expects China to win men's World Cup
( 2003-10-12 09:52) (Xinhua)
With three Chinese top guns
advancing to the quarter-finals at the ITTF Men's World Cup table tennis
tournament, newly-appointed national men's head coach Liu Guoliang expected a
further victory - to win the title.
Liu, former world and Olympic champions, who quit playing and turned to a
national coach last year, became the youngest men's head coach in history after
Chinese players were out of final at the World Championships in Paris, France,
in last May.
"I hope one of the our paddlers can win the World Cup. We have not claimed
men's singles title at big events for more than one year, including the event in
last year and the worlds since the 11- point system introduced into the sport,"
said the 27-year-old Liu.
"The victory will boost the Chinese men's players that we are able to
overcome new changes. It is also important for me as it is my first major event
as a head coach. I want to prove myself that I am eligible for the spot."
World top players Ma Lin, Wang Liqin and Wang Hao, who led in their groups to
enter the last eight, are expected to win the title against other favorites,
defending champion Timo Boll of Germany, in-form Russian Alexei Smirnov, Greek
Kalinikos Kreanga, Belgian Jean-Michel Saive and South Korean Ryu Seung-Min.
"We have chances to win, but our rivals are very competitive. We have to be
careful," he said.
Liu considered the World Cup a warm-up for next year's Olympic Games. He
said: "It will bring us confidence in Athens for sure if we take the trophy here
in Jiangyin."
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