A Hong Kong coach said Thursday that the world table tennis championships draw pitting her team against the defending champions at the women's quarterfinals was unfair.

As the world runners-up, Hong Kong should be the last team to meet the Chinese national team, Hong Kong women's head coach Li Huifen told Xinhua.

"We should be the second seeds here," she said.

"I don't know who made the draws and took us down to a much lower position in the seeding list. Otherwise, we would not meet China until both of us make the final."

The Hong Kong women had previously aimed for their third consecutive silver in Guangzhou, according to Li.

The coach looked upset after Hong Kong swept into the semifinals with a three-hour 3-2 victory over Austria.

The victory will be followed by an almost certain loss to the formidable Chinese women on Friday, said analysts.

It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Hong Kong women, who emerged as group winners after trouncing a series of European teams in straight games.

"I had not expected this situation before coming to Guangzhou," Li said. "When I learnt it, it was already too late."

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2008)