|
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 28 (Xinhua) -- China's paddler Ma Long will be aiming to win the only major title missing from his illustrious CV when he vies for the men's singles gold at the Rio Olympics.
Despite his status as the best player in the world in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics, Ma missed out on a berth in London due to some unexpected qualifying losses.
This time around, he enters the Olympics as the undisputed gold medal favorite, having dominated the sport in the past four years.
Ma's sustained excellence included a 12-month period to June in which he lost just two matches.
"(I have been) playing very hard during the last four years, as you know in China (it is) competitive for players to come here, we only have two candidates coming to the Olympic Games (in each singles event)," the 27-year-old told the Olympic News Service. "There has been lots of difficulties over the past four years but finally I am here."
Ma's list of accolades includes the World Cup and world championship titles, but he admits they do not compare with the Olympics.
"(The other competitions are) not in the same level, the Olympics is the top level," he said.
Ma continues China's rich tradition of success in table tennis. China has won 24 of the 28 Olympic gold medals awarded in the sport.
Such has been China's dominance that a limit of two players per country was introduced for the London Games table tennis tournament.
The rule has meant several big names will not be in Rio for the Aug. 5-21 Games, including women's No. 1 Liu Shiwen, who selectors overlooked in favor of Li Xiaoxia and Ding Ning.
Ma, whose nickname is the Fat Dragon, had words of support of Liu, who will compete in the team's event in Rio.
"The situation is normal, Liu Shiwen should prepare well for the team first; she didn't qualify for the singles, but the team medal is also an Olympic gold medal," he added.
