Paris Olympics: table tennis stars dreaming of medals and money as they head to Games
The city’s women may have won bronze in Tokyo last time out, but the favourites to succeed in France are mixed doubles pair Doo and Wong
Hong Kong’s table tennis stars will leave for Paris dreaming of medals and money, even if head coach Li Ching said the women’s team might struggle to defend the bronze they won in Tokyo.
However, with Doo Hoi-kem and Wong Chun-ting ranked highly in the mixed doubles, the former Olympics silver medallist jokingly said he was already thinking about the million dollar bonuses promised to the city’s athletes if they taste success in the French capital.
On Friday, the team had one final press call before the serious business of winning games begins, and Li reflected on how close Doo and Wong had come in Japan three years ago.
The duo were denied by a questionable call towards the end of a thrilling seven-game quarter-final clash against French duo Emmanuel Lebesson and Jia Nanyuan in Tokyo, but have retained their status as a top-four seed.
Still, Li said success all depended on the draw, which takes place on Wednesday.
“The seeding proved our ability so there are chances,” he said. “But every country and region has been investing a lot in the mixed doubles.