BEIJING, Aug 4(AFP): China's all-conquering table-tennis squad are gunning for total dominance in Beijing, planning to demolish all in their path as they cement their status as the sport's superpower.
With the Olympics to be held on home soil for the first time and table tennis considered China's number one sport, national pride is on the line.
Anything less than gold in all four events will be considered, by millions of frenzied Chinese fans and Beijing officials alike, a failure.
It's a heavy burden for most countries to bear but China, boasting the world's top four competitors in both the men's and women's sides, have every reason to be confident.
Even a new system to be introduced at these Games - replacing the men's and women's doubles with team events - has not dented their resolve.
"I feel that we can perfectly fit into the new system," said world number one Wang Hao at the recent China Open where they whitewashed the competition.
"In fact, our true enemy at the Beijing Olympics is not the new competition system but ourselves," the World Cup champion said.
China's most determined goal will be clinching gold in the men's singles-the only title they failed to win at the Olympics four years ago.
China were stunned in the final at Athens when South Korean young gun Ryu Seung-Min outclassed Wang, then the youngest member of team China at 20.
It was an embarrassing defeat for China, which had been aiming for a third consecutive clean sweep of the golds, after success in Sydney and Atlanta.
Since the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 1988, China has won all but five of the titles up for grabs.
Wang, now 24 and seemingly with nerves of steel, will be relishing the chance to make amends.
And the Asian champion will be backed up by Ma Lin, a four-time World Cup winner, and three-time world champion Wang Liqin.
The trio are considered virtually unbeatable in team play after demolishing arch- rivals South Korea 3-0 at this year's world team championships.
But China head coach Liu Guoliang has issued a note of caution, singling out European power Germany and South Korea as threats in Beijing.
"Germany and South Korea are the strongest opponents of our team at the Olympics, especially in the men's singles," Liu said.
South Korea's Ryu is well aware of the enormity of his task in trying to defend his title.
"I am confident of defending my gold medal but winning an Olympic gold requires more than just confidence or your abilities," he told AFP.
"Obviously China is the nation to beat at table tennis and I am trying to challenge them," added Ryu, ranked eight in the world.
