Former Chinese national table tennis team member Feng Zhe will soon become a Bulgarian citizen and play for his adopted country in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
Local media in Sofia quoted Bulgarian sports minister Feim Chaushev as saying that the 28-year-old player from Shanghai will represent Bulgaria in international competitions very soon.
Feng, who plays a topspin game in the Chinese traditional penhold grip, helped the Shanghai team finish second in the inaugural world club championships in 1999.
Chinese-born players have been the leading forces of many countries and regions since the 1980s. Johnny Huang of Canada, Gao Jun of the United States, Jing Jun Hong and Li Jia Wei, both of Singapore, and Chen Weixing of Austria are all former Chinese players.
(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2003)
|