World champions Wang Liqin and Zhang Yining, leaders to the world singles rankings, have been excluded from the rosters of China's table tennis men's and women's teams for next month's Doha Asian Games.

 

 

Wang Liqin

 

The 28-year-old Wang, double world champion, was replaced by Hao Shuai, 22, while Zhang Yining, the Grand Slam paddler who has won in Olympics, world championships and World Cup, abdicated to unnamed Chen Qing.

 

Liu Fengyan, director of the Table Tennis and Badminton Administrative Center of China, announced the list and declared the choice as a chance for younger players.

 

Men's head coach Liu Guoliang confirmed it, but declined to give more detailed explanations.

 

The 15th Asian Games will take place from December 1 to 15 in Doha, Qatar.

 

Squad:

 

Men's Team: Ma Lin, Wang Hao, Chen Qi, Ma Long, Hao Shuai

 

Men's Singles: Ma Lin, Wang Hao

 

Men's Doubles: Ma Lin/Chen Qi, Wang Hao/Ma Long

 

Women's Team: Wang Nan, Guo Yue, Guo Yan, Li Xiaoxia, Chen Qing

 

Women's Singles: Wang Nan, Guo Yue

 

Women's Doubles: Wang Nan/Chen Qing, Guo Yue/Li Xiaoxia

 

Mixed Doubles: Ma Lin/Wang Nan, Ma Long/Guo Yan

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2006)