Staggering loophole sees 38 Chinese table tennis stars representing OTHER nations in Rio - as Canada, Qatar and CONGO poach players to boost their medal chances

  • At least 44 table tennis players competing at Rio games are Chinese-born
  • Out of the 172 table tennis players at Rio, six players represented China
  • Some Chinese-born players hailed from Congo, Qatar and Luxembourg
  • These players left China for better opportunities to play internationally 

By Louise Cheer for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:22 EST, 18 August 2016 | Updated: 03:10 EST, 18 August 2016

At least 44 table tennis players competing at the Rio Olympics are Chinese-born but not all of them play for China. 

Out of the 172 players who were vying for gold at the Rio Olympics, only six wore the red and gold for China, The New York Times reported.

The rest of the Chinese-born players represented other countries - such as Spain, the Republic of the Congo, Qatar, France, Austria, Canada, Slovakia, Ukraine and Singapore.

At least 44 table tennis players competing at the Rio Olympics are Chinese-born but not all of them play for China. Pictured is Ni Xialian of Luxembourg

At least 44 table tennis players competing at the Rio Olympics are Chinese-born but not all of them play for China. Pictured is Ni Xialian of Luxembourg

This year in Rio, Chinese-born Yu Mengyu (pictured) represented Singapore

This year in Rio, Chinese-born Yu Mengyu (pictured) represented Singapore

Ni Xialian was one of the first players to make the move overseas from China.

She won a gold medal at the World Table Tennis Championships in 1983 for her home country.

But Ni made the move to Germany in 1989 before settling in Luxembourg to play for their national team two years later.

'There was too much competition. I didn't have the courage anymore,' the 53-year-old, who was born in China, told The New York Times of the seachange.

This year Ni competed in her third Olympics representing her adopted home.

Athletes representing countries they do not hail from is not unusual but 31 per cent of table tennis players competing at Rio were born outside of the nation they represented.

Another player who left China searching for better opportunities to shine on the world stage was Li Ping (pictured), who now plays for Qatar

Another player who left China searching for better opportunities to shine on the world stage was Li Ping (pictured), who now plays for Qatar

Chinese-born Zhou Yihan was another player who did not represent her home country. Instead she played for Singapore

Chinese-born Zhou Yihan was another player who did not represent her home country. Instead she played for Singapore

Canada's Eugene Wang is the nation's top-ranked table tennis player after moving from China to Canada in 2004 to pursue his dreams

Canada's Eugene Wang is the nation's top-ranked table tennis player after moving from China to Canada in 2004 to pursue his dreams

Li Xue wore the colours for France at Rio this year. Here she is celebrating her win against Netherland's Li Jie

Li Xue wore the colours for France at Rio this year. Here she is celebrating her win against Netherland's Li Jie

Liu Jia proudly plays for Austria, She is playing here in the women's singles qualification round

Liu Jia proudly plays for Austria, She is playing here in the women's singles qualification round

This is double the amount of those who play basketball and almost three times as much as those who compete in swimming.

Ni's move to Luxembourg was followed by many others.

As the table tennis federation rules stand right now, players who decide to play for another country after turning 21 are not allowed to play in world championships, the World Cup or the World Team World Cup.

But these players are still allowed to pick up the paddle for the Olympics. 

This year in Rio, Chinese-born Feng Tianwei, Zhou Yihan and Yu Mengyu all represented Singapore.

Yu arrived in Singapore at the age of 17 about 10 years ago in an attempt to succeed in her chosen sport because there was always someone else who was 'first choice'.

'There was a gap, in technique and experience, between me and the players more senior than me. I understood why others were picked ahead of me,' Yu told Singapore's The Strait Times.

'Competing is a privilege reserved for only the best in China. Before I came to Singapore, I couldn't take part in professional tournaments or major games. My dreams felt impossible.'

Another player who left China searching for better opportunities to shine on the world stage was Li Ping, who now plays for Qatar.

The list of Chinese-born players who do not play for their home country is extensive, and includes Xing Han who represents the Republic of the Congo

The list of Chinese-born players who do not play for their home country is extensive, and includes Xing Han who represents the Republic of the Congo

He Zhiwen represented Spain at the Rio Olympics at the age of 54

He Zhiwen represented Spain at the Rio Olympics at the age of 54

Tianwei Feng of Singapore celebrates after winning match point during the quarter-final match

Tianwei Feng of Singapore celebrates after winning match point during the quarter-final match

Chinese-born Yang Wang, who plays for Slovakia, was knocked out in the second round of the men's singles by Nigeria's Quadri Aruna in Rio

Chinese-born Yang Wang, who plays for Slovakia, was knocked out in the second round of the men's singles by Nigeria's Quadri Aruna in Rio

Kou Lei played for the Ukraine but lost to Portugal's Marcos Freitas in the fourth round

Kou Lei played for the Ukraine but lost to Portugal's Marcos Freitas in the fourth round

'In the past, representing China, it was hard for me to get a place in an international tournament, let alone the Olympic Games,' Li said in an interview with the International Table Tennis Federation, according to The Washington Post.

'I really treasure this opportunity.'

The list of Chinese-born players who do not play for their home country is extensive, and includes Xing Han who represents the Republic of the Congo, Li Xue who wears the colours of France and Liu Jia who proudly plays for Austria.

Canada's Eugene Wang is the nation's top-ranked table tennis player after moving from China to Canada in 2004 to pursue his dreams.

Chinese-born Yang Wang, who plays for Slovakia, was knocked out in the second round of the men's singles by Nigeria's Quadri Aruna in Rio.

He Zhiwen represented Spain at the Rio Olympics at the age of 54, and Kou Lei played for the Ukraine but lost to Portugal's Marcos Freitas in the fourth round. 

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