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Germany ‘joins China’ in complaining Olympic table tennis areas are too small
- Chinese team’s coach says he and his players are not only ones worried about size
- International federation says Olympic regulations met, although may move referee tables
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Germany has reportedly joined China in a complaint about the size of table tennis playing areas at the Tokyo Olympics.
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Liu Guoliang, the Chinese coach of the national team and the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, told Chinese state news agency Xinhua on Thursday that the German team had raised “the same concerns as we did: the playing area is too small”.
Liu measured the area with his feet, initially at least, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV on Monday, when the coach first flagged the issue. He said it was too easy for players to hit the surrounding area and referee tables.
Germany had, like China, talked to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Liu said on Thursday. “The ITTF is actively trying to find a solution,” he added.
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China’s Tokyo Olympics delegation will be nation’s biggest yet for an international sporting event
China’s Tokyo Olympics delegation will be nation’s biggest yet for an international sporting event
While Germany is not believed to have commented to the media, ITTF technical representative Chan Cheong-ki, from Hong Kong, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the site measured 8 by 16 metres and therefore met Olympic requirements.
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