Star player Tie Yana will be asked to delay her plans to start a family after topping Hong Kong's qualifying list for the 2012 London Olympics.
Tie was named eighth on the list of 28 players who gain direct entry to next year's Games after the world championships in Rotterdam last week. But the veteran, who turned 32 last week, said before her departure for the Netherlands that she wanted to have a baby.
Hong Kong Table Tennis Association chairman Tony Yue Kwok-leung said they would try to persuade Tie to stay in the sport for at least another 15 months. 'Tie is still a key player despite her age,' Yue said. 'Her international exposure is second to none and her performance in Rotterdam was still very impressive.
'We haven't spoken about the issue yet, but I hope she will continue to compete for Hong Kong with such a clear target as the Olympics.'
Another Hong Kong player, Jiang Huajun, who arrived from the mainland in 2005, will fulfil the Olympic requirements for the first time. She was ranked 11th on the list. Jiang also qualified for the 2008 Beijing Games, but did not meet the residency requirements.
Tie and Jiang captured a bronze medal in the doubles in Rotterdam, their second consecutive world championships medal after the 2009 Yokohama Edition. Jiang also teamed with Cheung Yuk to win a bronze in the mixed doubles.