Chinese table tennis chief Liu Guoliang has been tasked with promoting the sport on a global level with World Table Tennis (WTT) naming the former Olympic champion its new head.

The WTT was set up by the International Table Tennis Federation in August 2019 to modernize its commercial business activities and help table tennis compete with top-profile sports.

"Mr. Liu Guoliang is an extremely well-respected leader within the world table tennis community, with the perfect caliber and the richest of career achievements," a WTT statement said.

After a stellar playing career, in which he won the Olympic and World Championship golds, Liu has been head coach of the Chinese national team and president of the China Table Tennis Association.

"Table tennis has enriched my life in so many ways, and I have dedicated my life to this sport over many years," the 44-year-old said. "Therefore, I am immensely proud and honored to have the opportunity to lead the WTT Council and help to make table tennis one of the leading sports in the world."