The fact that this three-time world champion, Sydney 2000 doubles gold medallist and world number four is thought of as the weak link in China's table tennis squad, goes some way to explaining the nation's dominance of the event.

Wang - who, like Yao Ming and Liu Xiang hails from Shanghai - was unkindly dubbed "chicken heart" after an unexpected loss in the World Team Championships earlier in the year.

But the 30-year-old has fought back strongly to qualify for the Olympics where he will be one of the favourites for singles gold in what is likely his swansong.