Teenage player Guo Yue has been guaranteed a place on the Chinese women's team for the World Team Championships scheduled to open in Germany this April.

The 17-year-old girl has won the domestic selection tournament, beating Olympic and World champion Zhang Yining 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, and 11-4 in the final.

She had earlier defeated teammate Guo Yan in the semi-finals, while Zhang overcame former Olympic and World champion, Wang Nan, at the same juncture.

Four places remain open on the women's team for the world championships. Any member of the women's team who competes in the Qatar Open and the Kuwait Open, and reaches the final on both occasions, will secure their place on the World Championship team.

The remaining places are to be decided by the teams coaches.

(CRI February 12, 2006)