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Sport - Olympic Games

Chinese expected to rule the roost

K. Keerthivasan

OLYMPIC GAMES / The host has bagged 16 gold medals out of the total 20 in TT

— PHOTOS: AFP & AP

THE CHALLENGERS: Germany’s Timo Boll (left) and Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus have the wherewithal to topple the Chinese.

However much one would like the Chinese monopoly in table tennis to end, it is set to continue and emerge stronger than ever before in the Beijing Olympics. Ever since the sport made its debut as a medal event in Seoul in 1988, China has bagged an astounding 16 gold medals out of the total 20.

For the first time, perhaps, stiff challenge (it has been said so many times before) can be expected from a few European and other Asian countries, thanks to the new rules and regulations introduced by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ban on glues and quite a few ‘funny’ rubbers this month, say observers, has provided a level-playing field. The abolition of men’s and women’s doubles this time from the Olympics has added a certain intrigue, and of course thrown up immense possibilities.

Asian stranglehold

Based on the men’s singles rankings, the top four are all Chinese and there are only two non-Asian paddlers in the top 13, a fact that signifies the stranglehold of Asians. Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin, who occupy the top three spots for the quadrennial event, have been dominant for quite a while.

The trio has won the World Cup or the World championship singles, but what needs to be reiterated is that none among the three has won an Olympic singles gold; an added reason for the Chinese juggernaut to put in their very best.

Among the pretenders, South Korea and Germany look the best bet to pose hurdles to China in the team competition. The open event in the men’s section could possibly see a non-Chinese paddler holding the trophy.

Several names crop up but only two — Germany’s Timo Boll and Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus — remain etched in the mind. Boll and Samsonov have notched up wins in the Pro-Tours and some impressive victories over the top-ranked Chinese. The two, surely, have the wherewithal to topple the Chinese.

One of the most elegant left-handers to grace the sport, Boll’s backhand loop is a treat for the connoisseurs. Inconsistency though has been the bane of the former World No.1.

With two Pro-Tour victories in Kuwait and Slovenia, Samsonov remains the dark horse. He will enter the Peking University Gymnasium, the venue, a confident man as he has defeated all the top players in the world this season.

Defending singles champion Ryu Seung Min of Korea is another of those contenders for the men’s title (he stopped China’s clean sweep of four gold medals in Athens four years ago).

Zhang Yining, Guo Yue and Wang Nan are in the top five in the world in the women’s category, and with such a galaxy of stars, it’s not fair to set sights on anything other than the gold.

Yining’s performance has been outstanding this season, winning five Pro-Tour titles. Her quarterfinal loss in the 2008 Asia Cup notwithstanding, Yining remains the best bet.

Guo Yue, the 2007 World championship winner, and the veteran Nan, four-time World Cup winner, complete the formidable line-up.

Indian hopes

Sharath Kamal and Neha Aggarwal comprise the Indian interest. While Sharath, World No.79, has always said he’ll be satisfied to reach the last 16 in the singles draw of 64, Neha insisted that she’ll “enjoy the Olympic experience.”

Neha, in particular, will be a tad uncomfortable going into the Olympics as she was using the (now banned) Dr. Neubauer rubber as late as 2007.

“I know it’s difficult to adjust but I am getting used to it,” said Neha.

For the host country, table tennis remains a crucial discipline in its quest to reach the top position in the overall medals tally. In all probability, China will not disappoint.

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