American Table Tennis - USATT National Team Selection Process
The USATT National Team represents the best of the best table tennis players across the United States.
The 2009 USATT Women's National Team is made up of Jun Gao, Crystal (Yao Xi) Huang, Ariel Hsing, and Lily Zang.
Gao's top 30 World Ranking qualified her for the team.
Huang, and Hsing each qualified for the team by way of qualifying at trials.
Lily Zhang was appointed to the team after being selected by the National Team coaches and being approved by the Elite Athletes Committee.
Both Hsing and Zhang, at thirteen years old, are the youngest member's to ever compete on the Women's National Team.
Their coaches believe these youngsters are the future of team USA.
The teens have demonstrated that they have the skills necessary to compete at a high level.
Those who have witnessed these young stars in action believe they will make it to the 2012 Olympic Games.
The teens have brought renewed hope that, with continued practice and dedication, team USA will bring home an Olympic medal in the near future.
Jun Gao and Crystal Huang are more seasoned players.
Both competed for the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Gao has been the number one ranked player in the United States since she came to the country in 1994.
The Men's USATT National Team members are David Zhuang, Yinghua Cheng, Yu Shao, and Timothy Wang.
Zhuang, Cheng, and Shao each earned their spots on the team by qualifying at trials.
Timothy Wang was selected as the fourth Men's player by the Men's Team coaches and approved by the Elite Athletes Committee.
David Zhuang was a member of the 2008 United States Olympic team and the only Men's player to qualify for singles competition at the Olympic Games.
He is currently ranked 242nd in the world.
Yinghua Cheng, at the age of 51 is the oldest player at on the team and is currently ranked 231st in the world.
Yu Shao is ranked 520th.
Timothy Wang, who at the age of eighteen is the youngest player on the team, is ranked at 863rd.
In order to qualify for the National Team and man or woman table tennis athlete must be ranked among the top 30 players in the ITTF World Rankings.
USA athletes who meet this criterion will be offered a spot on the team roster.
Athletes may also secure a spot on the National Teams by successfully competing in the US Nationals.
The final sixteen athletes participating at the US Nationals in Men's and Women's Singles competitions are eligible to represent the USA at the World Table Tennis Championships.
Competing at the World Championships qualifies athletes for the National Team Trials, where athletes can earn their spot on the roster.
The final method of selection for the National Teams is the Coaches' Pick.
One spot on each roster is reserved for a player who is chosen by a select panel of USATT National Coaches and then approved by the High Performance Advisory Committee.
The athletes chosen for this elite team are considered to be the best table tennis players in the U.
S.
, and many even go on to be inducted in the USATT Hall of Fame.
The 2009 USATT Women's National Team is made up of Jun Gao, Crystal (Yao Xi) Huang, Ariel Hsing, and Lily Zang.
Gao's top 30 World Ranking qualified her for the team.
Huang, and Hsing each qualified for the team by way of qualifying at trials.
Lily Zhang was appointed to the team after being selected by the National Team coaches and being approved by the Elite Athletes Committee.
Both Hsing and Zhang, at thirteen years old, are the youngest member's to ever compete on the Women's National Team.
Their coaches believe these youngsters are the future of team USA.
The teens have demonstrated that they have the skills necessary to compete at a high level.
Those who have witnessed these young stars in action believe they will make it to the 2012 Olympic Games.
The teens have brought renewed hope that, with continued practice and dedication, team USA will bring home an Olympic medal in the near future.
Jun Gao and Crystal Huang are more seasoned players.
Both competed for the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Gao has been the number one ranked player in the United States since she came to the country in 1994.
The Men's USATT National Team members are David Zhuang, Yinghua Cheng, Yu Shao, and Timothy Wang.
Zhuang, Cheng, and Shao each earned their spots on the team by qualifying at trials.
Timothy Wang was selected as the fourth Men's player by the Men's Team coaches and approved by the Elite Athletes Committee.
David Zhuang was a member of the 2008 United States Olympic team and the only Men's player to qualify for singles competition at the Olympic Games.
He is currently ranked 242nd in the world.
Yinghua Cheng, at the age of 51 is the oldest player at on the team and is currently ranked 231st in the world.
Yu Shao is ranked 520th.
Timothy Wang, who at the age of eighteen is the youngest player on the team, is ranked at 863rd.
In order to qualify for the National Team and man or woman table tennis athlete must be ranked among the top 30 players in the ITTF World Rankings.
USA athletes who meet this criterion will be offered a spot on the team roster.
Athletes may also secure a spot on the National Teams by successfully competing in the US Nationals.
The final sixteen athletes participating at the US Nationals in Men's and Women's Singles competitions are eligible to represent the USA at the World Table Tennis Championships.
Competing at the World Championships qualifies athletes for the National Team Trials, where athletes can earn their spot on the roster.
The final method of selection for the National Teams is the Coaches' Pick.
One spot on each roster is reserved for a player who is chosen by a select panel of USATT National Coaches and then approved by the High Performance Advisory Committee.
The athletes chosen for this elite team are considered to be the best table tennis players in the U.
S.
, and many even go on to be inducted in the USATT Hall of Fame.
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