The Chinese won every medal (gold, silver, bronze) in the Mens and Womens Singles Table Tennis competition. Their men and women also won the team gold. But this is just the tip of their complete dominance. No less than 17 other countries competing in the Olympics Table Tennis fielded Chinese-born players! These countries ranged from the Congo to Luxembourg. Even Hong Kong and Singapore used almost all Chinese-born players. Singapore won the Womens Table Tennis Team silver, with an all Chinese-born players slate plus the elder brother of China's Chief Table Tennis coach as Singapore's coach. The International Table Tennis Federation is so concerned about this that they are introducing a rule that players of 21 years of age will not be allowed to switch allegiance, to encourage local-born players. Even China is a little 'red-faced' and is complaining that other countries are pinching their resources. China will be setting up a Table Tennis Academy specifically to train players from other countries to international standard/level.
i think china has such a wealth in players, sometimes players have to go overseas to be able to play the sport the love.
This development has caused many controversial even in the "home" country for these athletes. The Singaporean team who won the Silver in Women Team Table Tennis has divided the Singaporean into 2 camps: One that celebrate this achievement whole-heartedly and the other who felt it is a hollow victory as these ladies are not "true" Singaporean but mercenaries. Some went on as far as describing the Women Team Final as China Team "A" vs China Team "B". This is not to to start an argument who is right or wrong but to highlight this trend of players migrating has a far reaching impact not only on the sport itself but also on the society.
Pls do not denigrate table tennis by referring to it as ping pong. Table tennis is the most skillful bat or racquet game on the planet. The game used to have singles, doubles and mixed doubles for men and women. In the last Olympics, table tennis had a total of only 4 gold medals, the two team events and the MS and WS. This is even lower than badminton which had 5 gold medals. The rules of the game had been changed, China has always claimed, to reduce China's dominance. This has not worked but has in fact made it worse. We now see no less than 17 other countries fielding Chinese players. Both Japan and South Korea were and still are a powerhouse in table tennis, and I believe they are be pissed off being pushed aside by a newcomer (Singapore), who had no roots in table tennis, in the womens team silver medal. China I believe senses this problem that would one day get out of hand. It has therefore set up an academy to specifically coach and train players from other countries in an effort to raise the standard and global reach of table tennis.
Agreed. China is doing the right thing here. By raising the global standard of table tennie, they are inevitably raising their own bar as well. It can only be good for the overall table tennis development. It is a bold move. As with regard to the "root" of Table Tennis in Singapore - actually it does have a long history in Singapore - it has been a dominent sports among Singaporean Chinese, much like badminton in the 50s to 70s. During that time, most local Chinese schools donot get as much fundings compare to local English schools which are supported by the upper-middle classes. These Chinese schools often lack of proper sports facility or school halls. Hence most common things they have are table tennis tables set out in any open space or cemented badminton courts shared with basketball courts. Table Tennis is also the common activities played in then the "Community Centres" where common people gathered for recreation. Often there is a long queue forming besides the Table Tennis tables to take turn to play (the common rule was to play a five points game where the winner stays on to take on the next challenger until he/she is kocked out) That time, many Chinese school going children (including myself) almost pick up Table Tennis as the first sports they learned. But as you rightly pointed out, it is a very skill-oriented game and thus very difficult to learn to play well. Hence not many people can go beyond the basic level of skill without proper coaching. At times past, Table Tennis is considered as less fashionable and less and less people participate. But among the Chinese, it is still one of the favourites, other than badminton. Here you donot see many Indians or Malays pick up Table Tennis due to above reasons.
