"We failed again," said Cai Zhenhua, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China. Cai's words were surprising, as Chinese players had just swept all five titles at the World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohama, Japan, Oriental Sports Daily reports.
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According to Cai, China's dominance will do no good to table tennis' development around the world. |
Chinese players swept all five titles for the seventh time at 2009 World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohama, Japan. However, in Cai's opinion, China's clean sweep is actually a kind of 'failure.'
"It's a great accomplishment for our players and I'm very satisfied with their performance. But China's sole dominance is of no good to the pingpong sport elsewhere in the world. I'm very worried about this," Cai was quoted as saying.
According to Cai, it is time for China to launch a 'revival plan' to help other countries to improve their table tennis level.
"We should share our successful experience with other countries and let our coaches instruct their players," Cai noted.
"Some people claim this plan is dangerous, which is understandable. But the sport will be more exciting with rivals of higher level and more fiercer competition. We plan to help other countries foster more competitive players at first, and then provide suitable scheduals accordingly," Cai said.
Just three bronze medals were won by non-Chinese, Japan's Jun Mizutani/Seiya Kishikawa in the men's doubles and Jiang Huajun/Tie Yana of Hong Kong and Kim Kyung-Ah/Park Mi-Young of Korea in the women's version.
(China.org.cn by Xiang Bin May 7, 2009)
