http://www.ittf.com/2017/06/23/ma-long-eliminated-fails-arrive-second-round-match/

Breaking News: Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin eliminated, fail to arrive for second round matches

23 Jun 2017

Reasons not clear at the moment but the host nation’s Ma Long did not arrive for his scheduled second round Men’s Singles match on the evening of Friday 23rd June at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour China Open in Chengdu.

He was due to play Japan’s Yuya Oshima; the match has been awarded to Yuya Oshima.
Ma Long failed to attend his second round Men's Singles match (Photo: Hideyuki Imai)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Notably the crowd consistently shouted the name of Liu Guoliang, the man who until recently was the Head Coach of the Chinese National Team and has been named Vice President.

Now the question is posed as to whether Xu Xin will be present for his match against Japan’s Tomokazu Hariomoto and will Fan Zhendong face Korea’s Kim Dongyhun later in the day.

The answer has come fast; Fan Zhendong did not present himself for the contest against the Korean. Kim Donghyun has been afforded a walk-over.

Likewise, Xu Xin followed suit. He failed to present himself for his second round match against Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto; likewise there was no option but to award a walk-over.

Currently on Weibo it has been reported that members of the Chinese Men’s Team and coaches have posted words to the effect: “we have no desire to fight……all because we miss you Liu Guoliang!”

However this is not official, an official statement from the Chinese Table Tennis Association is awaited.

Further developments will be advised when known.