Sat, October 10, 2009
GUANGZHOU, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- World No. 2 Guo Yue leads Chinese squad here at the 2009 women's table tennis World Cup to be held from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12.
Four-time Olympic champion Zhang Yining does not enter the World Cup for family reasons. Defending champion Li Xiaoxia and talanted teenager Liu Shiwen will participate instead.
According to the draw for the group stage announced on Friday evening, top seed Guo will face Wang Yuegu of Singapore and Li Jiao of Netherlands in Group A.
Guo indicated that a right stage of mind is very crucial, especially in the last minute of match.
Li Xiaoxia will meet tough opponents in group B, facing Jiang Huajun, Liu Jia and Japan's Fukuhara Ai.
Jiang, who stunned world No. 1 Zhang Yining several times with her aggressive right-handed handshake hitter, poses the greatest threat to the defending champion.
Had Li got the gold medal in the World Cup, she will be the third player to defend the champion after Wang Nan and Zhang Yining.
The 18-year-old Liu Shiwen will make her debut at World Cup competing with Park Mi Young of South Korea and Hirano Sayaka of Japan, another player in this group is the winner of the Intercontinental Cup.
Chinese squad coach Kong Linghui said after the players' training that he trusted the strength of his players and hoped they can perform well in the coming competition.
