Chinese Trials & Closed-Door Training On The Way

Huangshi Training Base for the CNT women's team closed training
Photo: 李武军 Weibo

As always, the Chinese National Team will have an one-month closed-door training before the 2018 World Championships scheduled from 29 April to 6 May, in Halmstad, Sweden. The women's team will be based in Huangshi, Hubei while Xiamen, Fujian for the men. What comes before the closed-door training are the Chinese trials for 2018 WTTC. The men's trials will be held from 15-17 March and 16-17 March for the women.

Many may still remember Feng Yalan's switch-hand shot and the thundering cheers from last year's trials, the Marvellous 12. Unfortunately, the Chinese trials for 2018 WTTC have been scaled down and it is not likely to have the same extent of coverage this year. That being said, there are definitely reasons for you to keep an eye on the trials as the competition will determine the squad for Team China at 2018 World Team Championships and we might see a few Tokyo Olympic hopefuls emerge from the trials. 

Ma Long, Fan Zhendong and  Xu Xin have been confirmed for the Chinese men's team lineup. Meanwhile, Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling will make the women's team lineup. With 5 spots on each of the men's and women's team, the remaining positions are going to be determined after the trials. Grand-slam winner, Zhang Jike decided to sit out the trials as he is yet to be in his best form, meaning that he will be absent from the World Championships this April. 

The men's trials will be played among 10 players in a round robin competition under the best of 5 system. Fang Bo, Zhou Yu, Yan An, Lin Gaoyuan, Liang Jingkun and Zhou Kai have to top the trials or placed second with the first place being won by a U21 player in order to secure the ticket to Halmstad.

The U21 players, Zhou Qihao, Liu Dingshuo, Xue Fei and Wang Chuqin, will make the World Team if two of them end up in top 2 overall or ranked first among U21 players with the overall first place owned by a non-U21 player.

The women's trials will be held on 16 and 17 March. 2 out the 8 players will be selected to the 2018 World Championships after the round robin competition. The 8 players are Chen Meng, Chen Xingtong, Wang Manyu, Gu Yuting, Sun Yingsha, Wu Yang, Feng Yalan and Mu Zi.

CCTV 5 news report about the Chinese trials with some footage of the trials (still no live streaming available) and an interview with a national team coach, Wu Jingping.

Chinese Trials Day 2 -- CCTV 5 Report 

Who will book the final tickets for Team China to the 2018 World Team Championships? Comment your picks for Team China below. Chinese Trials results updated.