[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Controversy has erupted at the 2017 China Open going on right now as 3 of the biggest Chinese stars, Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Xu Xin, all did not show up for their scheduled men’s singles matches.
China’s most popular athlete, Zhang Jike, also did not play after the first game of his match either due to injury or being in line with the other 3. Liu Guoliang, who has been men’s team head coach for a long time, was “promoted” to a Vice President role of the Chinese Table Tennis Association and was no longer men’s team head coach. The players apparently are protesting this so did not show up for their scheduled matches which is very shocking, especially since this is such a big event that is nationally televised and taking place in China. Normally, things stay very private and secretive in super-strict China so for the players to do this shows a lot of strength and their unhappiness. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if suspensions are coming or if the players are allowed to say their side or anything publicly.
Recently, Chinese women’s team head coach Kong Linghui, who like Liu Guoliang is a former Olympic and World Men’s Singles Champion, was suspended from his role as women’s team head coach because of a gambling incident in Singapore that showed up in mainstream media. If the same exact situation had taken place in China, my guess is that it would never have reached the mainstream news and he would still be women’s team head coach. (https://glasshousefarms.org/) [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
