GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 2009 women's table tennis World Cup opened here on Saturday morning with one puzzle hovering over: will the all-mighty Chinese take it easy on their rivals.

    Chinese players have secured all the titles of women's table tennis World Cup since its inauguration in 1996.

    World No. 2 Guo Yue leads the Chinese squad, which also consists of defending champion Li Xiaoxia and talented teenage Liu Shiwen.

    The 2009 women's table tennis World Cup, marked as one of the table tennis "grand slam" events, has attracted 19 players from 13countries and regions, including world No. 6 Feng Tianwei of Singapore, Kim Kyung Ah of South Korea and Jiang Huajun from Hong Kong, China.

    Yokohama worlds' runner-up Guo Yue, who even did not enter the semi-finals last year, expressed her hope to claim the title here. "I did not perform well in previous World Cup, therefore I will try my best to prove myself in the coming competition."

    Cai Zhenhua, newly elected Chinese table tennis chief, said by holding World Cup seven times in the past 12 years, China has shared ITTF's responsibility to make table tennis a more popular sport.

    "The Chinese Table Tennis Association is proceeding its promotive plan of table tennis around the world, including organizing training camp for foreign young players and coaches," said Cai.

    He also indicated that holding high-level international competitions as the World Cup is one of the priorities in the plan.

    In the day-one competition, four players from Africa, North America, Latin America and Oceania first vie for the Intercontinental Cup, the winner of which earns a berth in group stage.