by Henry Chen

Recently, Kong Linghui, head coach of the Chinese Women’s Team, stated the need for effective and continuous development for their young players following Li Xiaoxia’s retirement.

Notably on Sunday 22nd January, Chen Xingtong proved she is a major challenger to fill any vacant places by winning the Women’s Singles title at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open.

 “I still have my Olympic dream”, Liu Shiwen

However, Liu Shiwen is now a player of experience. Listed at no.2 on the Women’s World Rankings; she has been amongst the top three names for now five years, having in February 2012 moved from no.4 no no.2.

“Liu Shiwen needs to forget her disappointments of the Rio Olympic cycle; because at that time she wanted to qualify for the singles but she failed to do so. We all have given her the platform and the opportunities but she failed to seize them”, Kong Linghui

Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen may be under a few degrees of pressure; Chen Xingtong has posted her intentions; at the forthcoming Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open, another young player has the opportunity to assert her credentials.

The name of Wang Manyu appears on the entry list, the winner of the Girls’ Singles title at the World Junior Championships on both 2014 and 2015; additionally she excelled in the 2016 Chinese Super League and she won the recent squad trials.