China table tennis dominance becoming a headache

BEIJING (Reuters) - China awed every country in its path for a clean Olympic sweep in its national sport of table tennis -- and the sport's rulers are worried.

Not only is global popularity dented by the dominance of a single nation, the dreary predictability of victories is sapping interest in China itself.

"It's a very big concern, especially at the Olympic Games," said Adham Sharara, International Table Tennis Federation president. "We can't blame China for being so strong. What we need is the other nations to become stronger."

There had been a huge weight of expectations on Chinese players to succeed in Beijing and some wondered whether the hosts would buckle under the pressure.

Boisterous crowds instead powered China's players to their best Olympic result: utter dominance. The men and women claimed all podium spots in singles and both also won team golds.

China coach Liu Guoliang was unapologetic.

"There's always this awkward point in table tennis. If we win everything, everybody says it's bad for the sport," he said. "Four years ago when we lost the (men's singles) gold, fans insisted that we get it back, they were so disappointed."

The Chinese juggernaut was not the only table tennis story of the Summer Games.

Singapore's women earned a team silver -- the first Olympic medal for the city-state since 1960.

Sweden's Jorgen Persson, a 42-year-old playing in his sixth Olympics, also made an improbable run to the men's semi-finals

China-born players taking part under adopted flags were striking for their pervasiveness as well as their success. At least 18 countries, from Congo to the Dominican Republic, boasted Chinese talent.

But China's best players did not emigrate and they were the main story. Had Ma Lin not won the men's gold, it would have been Wang Hao or Wang Liqin. Had Zhang Yining not taken the women's gold, Wang Nan and Guo Yue were at the ready.

"If it continues this way, there could be a loss of interest in China in the sport and also a loss of interest internationally," ITTF President Sharara said.

"China itself has to take a very large load and a very large responsibility to help the other nations to improve."

(Editing by Jon Bramley)