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Once the most powerful sports official in China, Cai Zhenhua now finds himself on the sidelines and who will succeed him is anyone’s guess.
On Tuesday, the former table tennis world champion appeared at the opening ceremony of the “Sixth China Labour Skills Championships” in Zhengzhou, in his new capacity as “All China Federation of Trade Unions Party Committee Member”.
Although Cai’s name can still be found on the General Administration of Sport website as the deputy director, it is believed he has been removed from sports to take charge of trade union affairs.
He has not been involved in any activity with the China Asian Games squad since late August.
With his new role, Cai is unlikely to keep his three other major titles in Chinese sports – chairman of the Chinese Football Association, Table Tennis Association and Badminton Association.