The final roster for the Olympic Asian zone qualifying tournament in Hong Kong starting from Feb. 6 has not been hammered out, head coach of Chinese men's national team said here Tuesday.
Following China's newly clinched victory over Croatia at the world table tennis championships Tuesday, Liu said that the ultimate list for the Hong Kong qualifying tournament would not be decided until the completion of the ongoing championships.
"The list will be released once it is decided," stressed Liu.
According to a list issued earlier by the Hong Kong table tennis association, veteran Wang Liqin and Wang Nan would compete in the Hong Kong tournament to battle for the last berth of men and women participating in this August's Beijing Olympic Games.
The International Table Tennis Federation has limited the number of players from each association to three at Olympic Games. On the men's the side, the world's top three Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin are viewed as indisputable candidates.
Speculation on Wang Liqin and Wang Nan's capability to come out at the Hong Kong tournament arise after both of them suffered unexpected defeats by lower-class rivals in Monday's games.
"My adaptability was poor today and I failed to bring myself into full play. I give myself a zero score," said the 29-year-old Wang Nan, the sport's most decorated players with 20 world and Olympic titles.
While Wang Liqin blamed his loss on slow adaptation to the competition rhythm and an anxiety for winning.
"He overestimated his rival," said Liu.
"Veterans have rich experience at international games although younger players are more undaunted," team leader Huang Biao told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua
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