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China Eyes 4-5 Table Tennis Golds in Universiade
Chinese team leader Zhang Yufeng said on Wednesday Chinese table tennis players would grab four or five gold medals in the World University Games in the absence of Olympic veterans Kong Linghui, Liu Guoliang and Wang Nan.
Five Chinese men and as many women paddlers are expected to meet tough challenge from Chinese Taipei, South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The Chinese men's team is led by world No.1 and world singles champion Wang Liqin and world No.4 Liu guozheng. The other players are former Chinese national champion Zhang Yong, Xi Minjie and Zhang Yingjie.
World No.3 Zhang Yining and rising star Niu Jianfeng spearhead the Chinese women's team which also includes Yu Jingwei, Tie Yana and Jiao Yongli.
"We aim for four or five gold medals here because we will face challenge from Chinese Taipei at men's doubles and women's singles, South Korea and DPR Korea at doubles and team events," Zhang said.
With a pool of talents, China is certain to win the men's singles and team events.
World top-ranked woman and dual Olympic champion Wan Nan has opted out of the Games to concentrate on national team competitions.
Zhang Yining, World Cup winner three days ago, has lost her touch because of fatigue, said Zhang Yufeng.
Many see South Korean Ryu Ji-Hye as a threat to Chinese dominance in women's singles.
In men's doubles, only Chinese Taipei can shake China. Chiang Peng Lung and Chang Yen Shu, world championships bronze medalists, will chase the doubles title.
China's arch rivals in women's doubles are South Korea's Olympic bronze medalists Ryu Ji-Hye and Kim Moo-Kyo, who claimed to fight for a medal in this event.
Zhang Yufeng is concerned DPR Korea may spring a suprise.
"DPR Korean players are mysterious opponents," he said. "They didn't take part in many international tournaments."
"Unknown opponents are more dangerous than visible ones," he added.
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