Chinese table tennis chief Liu Guoliang (R) coaches Ma Long in Budapest, Hungary, April 18, 2019. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The head of development at the Japan Table Tennis Association (JTTA), Yoshihito Miyazaki, has hailed Liu Guoliang's efforts to nurture preteen talent in the sport.

Since being elected president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) in December 2018, legendary player and coach Liu has paid particular attention to developing under-12 players.

Liu, a career Grand Slam champion during his playing days, visited Japan last year when both nations' governing bodies conducted in-depth cooperation on youth development.

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Chinese table tennis rarely paid attention to the development of under-12 players, but Liu noted the importance of that after he took office, and he advised me to promote it together. Then we launched it in the Chinese city of Wenzhou

Yoshihito Miyazaki

"Chinese table tennis rarely paid attention to the development of under-12 players, but Liu noted the importance of that after he took office, and he advised me to promote it together. Then we launched it in the Chinese city of Wenzhou (Zhejiang province)," said Miyazaki.

"It derived from Liu's determination. It's so great."

Japan's junior national team was launched in 2001 to develop under-12 paddlers, and has since produced two teenage global sensations－Tomokazu Harimoto and Mima Ito.

Miyazaki admitted that he feared Liu's project would further strengthen China's dominance on the table.

"China has the best table tennis players in the world. To catch up with them, we initiated a youth development project in 2001 and have seen the gap bridged to some extent," Miyazaki said."Now Liu has also focused on youth development. Do we expect the gap to become larger again? We certainly do feel the challenge."

Japan's elite paddlers have returned to the National Training Center in Tokyo after the country recently lifted its COVID-19 state of emergency.

At the height of the outbreak in March, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until next summer, and Miyazaki reckons the Japanese table tennis team can benefit from the delay.

"For Harimoto, Ito and Miu Hirano, who are less than 20 years old, they have one more year to improve their mentality and technique. So I think the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics will be positive to them," Miyazaki said.

"Come to Japan, and play excellent matches at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021! China, please leave one gold medal for us. We cannot ask for more," he added with a smile.

Crucial role

Miyazaki, meanwhile, expects China to help further promote table tennis around the globe.

Citing the feel-good factor generated in China by the four gold medals the nation won at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Miyazaki says the enthusiasm of Chinese fans helps boost the sport's global profile.

He admitted he was a little surprised to hear chants of "Come on!" in Chinese at tournaments in Japan, which is often the case in other countries and regions.

Then Japan's head coach Yoshihito Miyazaki is pictured on March 31, 2012 in Dortmund, western Germany, during the men's semi final of the World Team Table Tennis Championships 2012. (PATRIK STOLLARZ / AFP)

"I'm glad to see that Chinese fans can bring atmosphere to other places and form a larger group globally, which contributes to the development of table tennis," Miyazaki said.

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Although Miyazaki is eager to see the sport back in the spotlight, he admitted it's "too early" to bring international tournaments back in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he has suggested staging competitions between China, Japan and South Korea, where the disease has generally been brought under control.

"We cannot just organize games, we also need to broadcast them live. The broadcast revenue can be given back to the players. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch high-level matches. It will be a situation where many sides benefit," he said of the tri-nation proposal.