The Hindu : Sport / Table Tennis : China, Chinese Taipei set to renew rivalry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

Sport

Sport - Table Tennis

China, Chinese Taipei set to renew rivalry

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 18. With the world champions of the future on view, the Asian junior table tennis championship has always offered a platform for some exciting talents to leave their imprints before moving on to the `big' league. It is going to be no different when the 10th edition opens at the NDMC Indoor Stadium here on Monday.

Ten months ago, the Chinese Taipei boys and Chinese girls took the team honours at Hyderabad. However, China regained its pride by coming back from the brink of defeat to tame Chinese Taipei in the boys' final of the inaugural World junior championship in Santiago (Chile) in December. Viewed from this background, another grudge battle between the two rivals is very much on the cards over the next three days.

Tough for India

As far as India's fortunes are concerned, it will obviously be tough to finish ahead of the world's first four teams. India had finished fifth in both sections last year and this year, an improvement seems difficult.

In the girls' section, India will have to beat Hong Kong in the league if it hopes to finish second behind Chinese Taipei in group `A.' In case India qualifies for the quarterfinals by coming third, it will run into defending champion China or runner-up Korea and that would effectively end its challenge.

The groupings:

Boys: Group `A': Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau and Sri Lanka; Group `B': China, India, Iran, Kuwait and Yemen.

Girls: Group `A': Chinese Taipei, India, Hong Kong and Iran; Group `B': Japan, Indonesia, Macau, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

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