Photo from ITTF website
A show of tantrum sees defending Youth Olympics double gold medallist Wang Chuqin thrown out of the ongoing Austrian Open as well as being slapped a three month suspension by the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA).
The 19-year-old threw his racket in frustration after losing a closely fought match 10-12, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11 to teammate Zhao Zhizhao in the last 32 match on Thursday.
Chinese officials have deemed that Chuqin’s action in throwing the racket onto the table put his teammate in harms way and was against the spirit of sportsmanship.
In what can be seen as the CTTA’s zero tolerance policy, Chuqin’s coach Liu Guozheng has also been suspended. Both the player and coach have been ordered back home immediately.
CTTA has been very strict when it came to players’ discipline. Earlier this year two other players Zhou Yu and Fang Bo were also suspended for infringements.
Chuqin has been withdrawn from all remaining events. He was down to play in both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles partnering partnering Fan Zhendong and Liu Shiwen respectively.
If the suspension of the Swedish Open champion is not reduced or lifted, he is almost certain to miss the World Tour Grand Finals in China next month. Chuqin had already qualified for the Finals on merit.
Chuqin was a member of the Chinese team that won the team title in Halmstad last year and won the men’s doubles gold at this year world championships with Ma Long.
CTTA in their official statement apologised for the player’s behaviour and said that Chuqin would be counseled to correct his behaviour.
The statement also said that the CTTA stresses that young players abide by the rules and value the education and growth.
Only proper management can help young athletes correct their attitudes in the growth period and become more outstanding person said the statement.
It went on to say that the national men’s team coaching team would also reflect on the problems of negligence within the team members, as well as strengthen the ideological and moral education of coaches and athletes, to maintain the respect of the audience, the opponents, the referees, and keep in mind the spirit of the national team.
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