Table tennis: Chunli in repeat nightmare draw

ATHENS - New Zealand table tennis player Li Chunli has been dealt a nightmarish dose of deja vu in the Olympic Games women's singles draw.

Commonwealth Games champion Chunli is drawn play world No 1 Yining Zhang of China in round three on Tuesday if she is successful in her opening second round match on Sunday.

The draw will be a painful reminder of the 2000 Sydney Olympics for the Chinese-born New Zealand player, who was eliminated by then world No 1 Wang Nan of China. Two-time World Cup winner Zhang has succeeded Nan as the undisputed world's best player and the 23-year-old is reputed to have an enormous future.

Chunli's seeding for the tournament of 27 was high enough to receive a first round bye. Her second-round opponent will come from the winner of the clash between Korean Ji Hye Yoon and Vietnamese-born Tawyny Bahn, representing the United States.

Chunli's second round match is scheduled for 2pm (11pm NZ time) on Sunday, with the possible clash against Zhang scheduled for 1pm (10pm NZT) on Tuesday.

- NZPA