China table tennis ‘bad boys’ Ma Long, Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong back in action for National Games
Trio were involved in the infamous ‘no-show’ at the China Open in June, but have been allowed to take part in the Tianjin tournament later this month
China table tennis “bad boys” Ma Long, Xu Xin and Fan Zhendong will return to competition at this month’s National Games for the first time since their infamous “no-show” at the China Open in June.
The trio has been partly reinstated by the Chinese Table Tennis Association and given the go ahead to take part in the 13th National Games, running from August 28 to September 6 in Tianjin.
Although Ma, Xu and Fan have been allowed to return to the fray, the Chinese Table Tennis Associaton has made it clear that the trio have not been fully reinstated after their role in the “no-show” five weeks ago at the China Open and Australian Open earned a stinging rebuke from the mainland’s top sports body, the General Administration of Sports of China.
The trio pulled out of both tournaments in an apparent protest over the release of long-time Chinese coach Liu Guoliang, who was removed from his post after more than a decade at the helm. Liu has since taken up a new post as vice-chairman of the association.
Their action caused widespread embarrassment to the team with the top sports body condemning their “no-show” while demanding the Chinese Table Tennis Association investigate the matter with “utmost urgency”.