National table tennis players fall victims to romance

Home>>Sports

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 06, 2004

National table tennis players fall victims to romance

China's table tennis association has removed four national team members for having romantic affairs that it said impeded preparations for this year's Olympic Games.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

China's table tennis association has removed four national team members for having romantic affairs that it said impeded preparations for this year's Olympic Games.

Women's world No. 9 Li Nan and teammates Bai Yang, and Fan Ying have been ordered to return home to "carry out deep reflection," media reports said Monday, quoting head coach Cai Zhenhua.

Men's player Hou Yingchao, identified by the reports as Li's boyfriend, was also sent home.

The removed players "engaged in romantic affairs, affecting training," Cai was quoted as saying at a team meeting Saturday.

Media reports said players had been ordered to hand in mobile telephones as the team went into seclusion for the start of training Sunday.

Media reports said world No. 1 Ma Lin was Bai's boyfriend but spared punishment because he is expected to be a key player at the Athens Olympics.

Ma's doubles partner Wang Hao was not punished either, despite being identified as being involved with Fan.

Reports said the association also fined and punished other coaches and players, including men's paddler Qiu Yike, who was given a 6-month suspension for drinking.

Source: Shenzhen Daily

Questions?Comments? Click here

China eyes table tennis gold sweep in Athens: official

Table tennis pros to vie for year end honors

Will China's rise trigger Sino-US confrontation? ( 47 Messages)

China may participate in reconstruction of Iraq ( 8 Messages)

Gas field blowout kills 191in SW China, 290-odd hospitalized ( 32 Messages)

HK singer Anita Mui dies of cancer ( 7 Messages)

China offers emergency humanitarian aid to Iran ( 14 Messages)