Liu Guoliang, head coach of the Chinese Table Tennis Team. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The list of the new leadership for the Chinese Table Tennis Team was released yesterday on the official website of Chinese Table Tennis Association. Liu Guoliang will serve as head coach, with Kong Linghui and Qin Zhijian serving as coach of the women's team and men's team, respectively.

The new leadership will debut in the upcoming ITTF-Asian Table Tennis Championships held at the Wuxi Sports Center from April 9-16.

Liu Guoliang, the first Chinese winner of the Table Tennis Grand Slam, retired from competing in 2003 to become the coach of men's Chinese Table Tennis Team. In 2013, he began working as both head coach and coach of men's team. He has led the team to win all the gold medals in three of four Olympic table tennis tournaments they have participated.

Liu gave up coaching for the men's team after an election campaign held in Anshan, Liaoning province on March 30. He said: "I've got tons of work to do to help the whole team better develop. I can't spare more time and energy, so it will be a good thing if I quit coaching the men's team".