Table Tennis: Chen remains anxious to prove himself

James Leigh
Friday 09 September 1994 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THE ENGLISH national champion, Chen Xinhua, is especially anxious to prove he can still beat the world champion, Jean-Philippe Gatien, whom he meets in the European Masters Cup quarter- finals in Hanover today writes James Leigh.

He could then meet either the world No 1 from Belgium, Jean-Michel Saive, or the Olympic champion from Sweden, Jan-Ove Waldner.

The former World Cup winner from China is in the last season of a contract worth an estimated pounds 100,000 a year with the Bundesliga club, Ochsenhausen, whom he needs to impress if he is to remain competing in Germany. Chen, at 34, also needs to show he still has reason to aim for an Olympic Games debut in 1996 as his swan-song. He is desperate to defy Chinese officialdom, which vetoed his participation for Britain in the Barcelona Olympics. 'I have been training since July, but I seem to get more nervous before big matches,' Chen said. 'Perhaps it means more to me to know I can still do it.'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in