COGNITIO College's Tong Kun has been ruled out of the Atlanta Olympic Games next summer because she failed to comply with the three-year residency rule laid down by the International Table Tennis Federation.
Tong Kun was earlier tipped to be one of the Hong Kong representatives for the Asian qualifying tournament in Chiba, Japan, in March.
The 16-year-old has twice worn Hong Kong colours at major international tournaments - the Commonwealth championships in Singapore and the World Championships in Tianjin, China.
Shanghai-born Tong Kun has also been selected for the Hong Kong team for the Asian Team Championships at her birthplace later this month.
However, Hong Kong Table Tennis Association secretary-general Ng Yan-wing pointed out that the qualification standard for the Olympic Games is different from other events.
'The residency requirement for representation to most table tennis tournaments is two years, but this does not apply to junior players, that is why Tong Kun can go to the Commonwealth championships,' Ng said.
