Table tennis: New goal for Li Chun Li

Four-time Olympian Li Chun Li.

The Li dynasty in New Zealand table tennis may be coming to an end but the Chen dynasty is just beginning.

Li Chun Li has headed a one-woman roadshow for New Zealand for the last 16 years. She has participated in four Olympics, won four medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, won three Oceania titles and nine New Zealand championships.

She almost single-handedly put table tennis on the map in New Zealand, always competing with a grace that won her national respect.

She is the Wynton Rufer or the Mark Todd of her sport but retired from competitive playing just two weeks ago, at 43.

But now she has a new goal - "I want to make table tennis in New Zealand what it is in China" - to help develop future champions for Table Tennis New Zealand [TTNZ]. Enter Brad Chen.

Chen, 19, arrived in New Zealand from China about 18 months ago and has taken over the No 1 men's ranking. TTNZ is currently attempting to fast-track his residency to make him eligible to compete for New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in March.

Trained by Chun Li's sister Karen at North Harbour Table Tennis, the pair believe Chen is exactly what New Zealand table tennis needs.

"I think it is good for New Zealand table tennis," said Chun Li. "Good for the kids to see an overseas player like Brad and how he plays."

While Chen is yet to be tested internationally he has, according to the sisters, a better technique than local players and hits the ball more powerfully than others his age.

From Guangdong, near Hong Kong, Chen won a provincial junior title in China at 14. Since coming to New Zealand he has won the under-21 men's singles and the North Island men's title.

"In my opinion we need to do two things to help New Zealand table tennis," Chun Li said.

"One is to win a title in an international tournament like the Commonwealth Games, Oceania tournaments or Olympics.

"The other is to develop the young kids to be as strong as the ones coming through in Australia. At the moment they are not as strong."

Which is where Chun Li's new role as national development officer comes in - although she will only be able to tackle the job if the sport can raise support from SPARC and/or commercial sponsorship.

Hopefully something can be worked out and New Zealand is lucky to have a player of her calibre and work ethic. She could have gone back to Japan, where she has been playing, and a much more lucrative coaching deal.

TTNZ has also recently appointed former New Zealand cricketer Richard Petrie as mental toughness coach to assist in the build-up to the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, Chun Li is concentrating on her role as national women's coach and keeping a close eye on the likes of Chen.

She occasionally hits with Brad and her sister but her competitive days are definitely over. After 16 years of playing professionally and a niggling shoulder injury, it was time.

She played the last six years in Japan in a Super Circuit men's competition. Playing against men improved her power. She noticed she was "smashing" the ball harder, which helped when she came back to playing women.

But she also noticed the strain on her body, possibly aggravated by the "pan holder" grip she used. Most players today use the "shake hands" grip - holding the bat how you'd shake hands with a person. But Chun Li's technique uses only one side of the rubber on the bat and may not have helped with injuries.

Chen is grateful he is in the capable care of the Li sisters and is enjoying the more relaxed New Zealand training regime. Had he stayed in China, he is pretty sure he would have been swallowed by the colossal system. China is a country of over a billion and table tennis to the Chinese is what rugby is to New Zealand.

"In China there are always better young players behind you," he said. Chen was becoming stale.

"I started playing when I was eight and we trained for five or six hours a day," he said. "It is not professional here, everyone has to work or study as well, so we only practise for about two hours a day.

"If I had stayed in China, I think I would have given up," he said.

The only thing Chen misses about Asia is the number of high-calibre players to practise with.

Chen's inclusion would strengthen NZ's medal chances at Melbourne. They're likely to include Peter Jackson, who is delivering good results in Europe, plus Andrew Hubbard and Shane Laugesen.

Karen Li (28) will probably spearhead the women's team. Chun Li says Karen represents New Zealand's best chance of winning a medal, so the Li dynasty is not yet over. Chun Li and Karen won a silver medal in the women's doubles at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

If Chen gets the chance to play for New Zealand next year and ultimately in his homeland at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he says his loyalty for New Zealand will be complete.

"I didn't represent China and I would love to make a contribution for New Zealand."