But every coin has two sides. The disadvantage of this traditional model is that it separated sports training from normal schooling. Take myself as an example. Schooling or playing was the only alternative when I first entered the Shandong Provincial Team at the age of eleven. My study performance was good, but I preferred to play, so I followed the above-mentioned route. To be honest, I never felt regret for my choice. As a member of the national table tennis team, it will always be my honor and pride to play for China, to see the national flag rising and to sing national anthem at the medal ceremony. The sense of achievement that I gained from table tennis will always be the most precious memory of my life. But competition is extremely fierce under the traditional sports training model. There is a risk of elimination in every section of the above-mentioned route. You have to start from the very beginning if you fail to reach the next step.

Personally, it was a pity that I was absent from normal schooling. I was playing hard when my peer mates were studying hard at school. So the new model of sports training that I explore aims to help students to live with both playing and schooling. Hence, I told Peking University that I'd like to initiate a club in 2003.

According to my plan, the Club will rely on the educational platforms that Peking University provides; it will consist of a chain of four teams at different levels. The first team will take part in national tournaments; it will compete, and concentrate on performance, which in turn will make revenue for the Founder Group from advertising and marketing. The second team will represent Peking University in university-level competitions nationwide as well as in the Universiade. The remaining two teams, as reserve forces, come from primary and middle schools that are also subordinated to Peking University.

Development has been promising since the formal establishment of the club in October 2003. Our first team ranked fourth in its debut season of 2005 and climbed one rank higher in 2006. We've been to the United States and visited Harvard University and Yale University to celebrate the 35th anniversary of ‘ping-pong diplomacy'. We've opened table tennis summer camps for primary and middle-school students at home and abroad. Moreover, we plan to cooperate with the subordinate kindergarten of Peking University to promote the new model of sports training.

Several top foreign players such as Ai Fukuhara from Japan, Timo Boll from Germany, Oh Sang Eun and Rye Seung Min from South Korea have participated in Chinese national tournaments. What is your comment?

I think their presence helps to push the development of table tennis worldwide, and to improve the domestic sports market in China.

The training environment and conditions in China are the best in the world. Foreign players coming to play here have nothing to do with money. Technically, they probably can't even defeat Chinese players; but they have enough confidence. So their presence in China's national tournaments will help to improve their technique. Chinese players, however, present a striking contrast. Their technique is the best, but their confidence and capabilities still need to be strengthened through vis-à-vis competitions with foreign players.

What do you think are the Chinese national team's prospects at the Beijing 2008 Olympics?

I'm confident of their victory. As I've said before, Chinese players have the smartest techniques; the only problem left is how to deal with huge psychological pressures. It has nothing to do with whether China can win gold medals or not. Rather, it is more important to see how China beat all components.

I am one of the consultants for the national female team in preparation of the 2008 Olympic Games. I know very well that each member, whether player or coach, is challenging her limitations to the maximum, both physical and psychological. They all work so hard. I'm deeply moved and sometimes can't help but to cry for them. I never noticed these difficulties when I was one of the Olympic candidate players.

The Olympic table tennis competition will be held at Peking University. The venue is currently under construction and will be completed in August, and the test game is scheduled by the end of this year. What is special about Peking University?

This is a breakthrough, because Peking University will be the world's first specific venue for table tennis as compared to other integrated venues. It has also gained high praise from Mr. Shalala, the president of the International Table Tennis Federation. As for the utilization of the venue in the post-Olympic period, it will be conducive to improving sports facilities in the University. In the future, Peking University will become the international table tennis center. A new world champion, co-produced by the national team and the university, may not just be a dream.

You have been actively participating in and promoting activities related to the Olympics. How do you assess your role in Olympics?

My enthusiasm towards the Olympics is rooted in my lifelong regret that I haven't won an Olympic gold medal. As for the country, this is a good opportunity for China to show the rest of the world what it is capable of, by organizing a successful Olympics. Table tennis in China is like a shining pyramid. I was a national team player and an Olympic participant who used to reach the top of the pyramid and play for the nation. But now, as time has passed, my role has changed. I prefer to be the cornerstone of the pyramid, as the general manager of a table tennis club. It's my responsibility and honor to contribute to the nation.

Profile of Liu Wei

Born in 1969 in Shandong Province, Liu Wei entered the Chinese table tennis national team in 1983. After retiring in 1996, she played in Japan for three years. After returning to China in 1999, Liu Wei took a bachelor's course at the Law School, Peking University. In 2003, she initiated the Peking University Founder Table Tennis Club and assumed the position of General Manager, a title she still holds.

Between 1991 and 1995, Liu Wei partnered with Wang Tao to made history as the first team to win three successive mixed doubles titles at the World Team Table Tennis Championships. She was selected as one of the top ten best table tennis players in 1996 and entered the Hall of Fame of the International Table Tennis Federation on May 22, 2003.