BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese sport stars Tian Liang and Guo Jingjing, who monopolized the top spots at the Olympic diving championship in Athens this year, have been nominated for the ¡°Best Image¡± award at the MTV Style Awards 2004.

    The MTV 2004 Awards will take place Thursday in Shanghai.

    The popular divers, allegedly lovers, are still bathing in an endless round of celebrity interviews, paparazzi lenses, and gossip scandals that have started since their return from Athens this September.

    However, they have been criticized for being absent from training and were urged to rejoin the national diving team by the team recently.

    According to the Chengdu-based Chengdu Economic Daily, Zhou Jihong, director of the national diving team, suggested in an online interview earlier this week that Tian and Guo should withdraw from the diving team if they don¡¯t think following the team¡¯s strict rules is compulsory.

    Zhou criticized Tian and Guo for being absent at the start of the winter training program.

    It is not the first time that Zhou has openly voiced her discontent toward the young couple. Last week she was quoted saying Tian and Guo ¡°have set a very bad example for young athletes¡± with their celebrity activities.

    In response to the criticism, Tian said he had not yet been asked by the national team to train. He said he would remain on vacation until he was called up for training.

    Tian and Guo are among the most talked-about names in the entertainment world since their return from Athens for their outstanding performances in the competition and their glamorous appearance.

    Tian even announced his plan to join the Hong Kong-based Emperor Entertainment Group.

    The ambiguous relationship between Tian, the diving beauty Guo and Hong Kong social luminary Kenneth Fok ¡ª grandson to business tycoon Fok Ying-tung ¡ª has made them the talk of the town over the past two months. Enditem 

    (Shenzhen Daily)