As the national team training camp concluded in early-March, athletes returned to their provincial teams to get ready for the qualification meet for the 2021 Chinese National Games (aka. 14th Chinese National Games) which is tentatively held from 20 to 30 March 2021 in Chengdu, Sichuan. Hundreds of Olympic contenders and top table tennis athletes across China will be competing in 7 events, vying for spots in the main draw of the 2021 Chinese National Games to be held in mid-September this year in Shaanxi, China.
Who has Qualified to the Main Draw
According to the regulations, the top 4 finishing teams at the 2020 Chinese Nationals make to the main draw directly. Whereas medalists at the 2018 and 2019 WTTC, 2019 Team World Cup, 2020 Individual World Cup and 2021 Tokyo Olympians automatically qualify for the main draw of the singles event. Tokyo Olympians of the mixed doubles event would also book a spot in the mixed doubles main draw of the Games. Hong Kong and Macau can each send 1 team, 2 single and 1 pair of doubles (each on the men's and women's side) and 2 pairs of mixed doubles to the main draw. Theoretically the followings have qualified for the main draw in the corresponding events:
MT: Guangdong, Beijing, Shandong, Hubei, Hong Kong and Macau
WT: Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hong Kong and Macau
MS: Ma Long, Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Lin Gaoyuan and Liang Jingkun
WS: Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen, Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu and Zhu Yuling
WT: Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hong Kong and Macau
MS: Ma Long, Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Lin Gaoyuan and Liang Jingkun
WS: Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen, Chen Meng, Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu and Zhu Yuling
Others would have to place top 12 (for team), top 24 (for singles) and top 16 (for doubles) at the qualification meet in order to proceed to the main draw.
The Chinese National Games is dubbed by the media "China's version of Olympics". Held every 4 years, it is well-recognised the most prestigious national multi-discipline sport event where fan favourites and rising stars shine. The 14th edition of the Games is one of a kind since never has the Games been held in an Olympic year. This implies we will see Olympians and seeded players playing at their peak at the qualification meet rather than at their post-Olympic depleted form. Secondly, the mixed-provinces pairs policy is lifted, encouraging experienced-fresh collaboration and offering opportunities for new faces to make their name out there. Lastly, the PLA (aka. Bayi) team has undergone a reformation since 2020, releasing numbers of athletes to other provincial teams. This shuffles the playing field significantly adding more unpredictability than ever.
Despite the significance of the meet, further information (such as roster and schedule) are yet to be officially announced (I'm fed up with CTTA's last-minute announcement). We can expect big names such as Fan Zhendong and Sun Yingsha attending the meet but anything at this moment are subject to changes (so does the competition date) and the physical fitness test requirements simply add uncertainties to the Games. So, stay tuned for our latest updates. Let us know your predictions and questions in the comment box below.
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When will the main draws start pls ?
ReplyDeleteTentatively to be held in mid-September, in Yan'an, Shaanxi
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