Tokyo Olympics: China table tennis boss says Olympic Covid rules ‘extremely difficult’

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China’s reigning Olympic champion Ma Long will lead the charge for gold medals in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:53pm, 14 Jul 2021Updated: 6:53pm, 14 Jul 2021

China’s table tennis chief has bemoaned Covid-19 safety rules at the Tokyo Olympics, saying they are making life “extremely difficult” as his team looks to sweep the golds once again.

China have won 28 of the 32 table tennis titles awarded at the Olympics, dominating a sport in a way that has rarely been matched.

But the lead-up to the pandemic-delayed Games has thrown up several challenges, from inconsistent form among China’s top players to new rules to stop the coronavirus spreading.

“We didn’t expect some epidemic rules like not wiping the game table with your hand, or blowing [on the ball],” Chinese Table Tennis Association president Liu Guoliang told state broadcaster CCTV.

“The preparation for this Olympic Games is actually extremely difficult,” he added, in an interview aired on Tuesday.

Ma Long (right), CTTA president Liu Guoliang (centre) and Lin Gaoyuan at a prize-giving ceremony in 2019. Photo: ITTF

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