OLYMPICS/ Team china
Wang eyeing Deng's Olympic record
By Yu Yilei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-17 11:15
Dominating at table tennis in a nation renowned for its fearsome talent pool was never going to be easy, but Wang Nan somehow made it happen.
It took her a decade, however.
The 29-year-old from Liaoning Province took her 20th title from the world championships and Olympics in May by winning the women's doubles with Zhang Yining at the latest Worlds in Croatia.
No one has ever achieved such an accomplishment in China, not even legendary paddler Deng Yaping, whose 18-title record was snapped by Wang at last year's Team Worlds.
Wang refuses to hang up her racket, however, even though most of her teammates of the same age have already retired.
She thinks she can eke out more success at next year's Beijing Olympics by catapulting herself to the status of double gold medalist with a singles win. Wang is also tipped to join the team competition, in which China has the honor of ranking as an odds-on favorite slash surefire winner.
Wang, who has three Olympic gold medals under her belt, will break another of Deng's records if she can rake in another two in Beijing. Deng currently stands as the winningest table tennis player in Olympic history with four golds.
"The Beijing Games has always been my ultimate dream," smiled Wang. "As an athlete, I have taken part in all kinds of competitions and won all kinds of titles.
"But I have never featured in the Olympics on home soil, so I decided to give it another go."
The veteran retains amazing form and is still world-ranked No 2 behind teammate Zhang Yining. Wang is also considered the backbone of Liaoning Club, which placed third in China's Table Tennis Super League.
"I have strong faith in myself because I have shown a consistent form in national and international competitions in the past year," Wang said.
The problem could be those hungry up-and-comers snapping at her heels, as her younger teammates are challenging hard for a place on the three-member Olympic women's team. Another three Chinese follow her in the world rankings, including reigning world champion Guo Yue and World Cup winner Guo Yan.
"If I can keep my form, I don't think there is a problem for me to make the final roster," said Wang.
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