Ex-China players attack allegiance switch limits

A proposal to restrict table-tennis players from switching national allegiance will harm the development of the sport around the world, says Chinese-born US player Gao Jun.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) will vote on a resolution today that would forbid players changing allegiance after the age of 21 and impose qualifying periods of three to five years on younger players.

"I don't think we should restrict these players," the 39-year-old Gao, who moved to the US after winning a silver medal with China at the 1992 Olympics, told the Beijing Youth Daily.

"China has a high standard of table tennis, with a lot of talented players. It's necessary to export some of this talent.

"With us going to other countries, not only can we help their young players improve, but we can also help their national teams get better results," she added.

Chen Weixing, another former Chinese national who now plays for Austria, also hit out the plan.

"This will definitely affect the standard of countries who have been prepared to take in (international) players," he told the paper. "I think all countries should have some high-standard players, but if they don't, bringing in (overseas) players is a good way."

Benefits

However, China men's team coach Liu Guoliang believes the rule change might in fact help the sport's development.

"I can see there would be a certain benefit to limiting these players because, if there were Chinese players everywhere all round the world, this could harm table tennis's development in other countries and the sport itself," he told the paper at the world team championships in Guangzhou.

The rule, which will be considered by the ITTF's directors, will not be retroactive and only affect entry to certain competitions.

"We don't want to eliminate it, but limit it," ITTF president Adham Sharara told a news conference.

"We want to push the national association to develop their own teams. The Olympic Games have their own rules and our rule only limits the world championships and World Cup."