GUANGZHOU, China, Feb 25, 2008 - Top table tennis officials will vote this week on a controversial proposal to restrict the increasing number of Chinese-born players at the elite level of the sport.

　　Chinese-born paddlers are prevalent in many national teams, with some players moving from mainland China, where competition to make the coveted squad is fierce, specifically to a new country to help further their careers.

　　"In seven or eight European countries at the moment, the top female players are Chinese-born," said International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) media committee chairman Arne Madsen.

　　The proposal, to be put to the ITTF's board of directors on the sidelines of the world championships here this week, does not specifically target Chinese-born players, Madsen said.

　　But if adopted it is expected to hit up and coming paddlers born in China, given the sheer numbers playing the sport on the mainland, where table tennis is considered the national game, and elsewhere.

　　"It is not only for Chinese-born players but also some players from European countries. After the various wars, there were several players walking around looking for new countries to play for," Madsen told AFP.

　　"But there are a lot of Chinese players all over the world.

　　"This is not to blame the Chinese, you cannot blame them for being the best, it's (the proposal) to help the others who cannot compete."

　　Paddlers representing their adopted countries include Beijing-born Liu Jia for Austria, Wang Chen for the United States, Dang Ye Seo for South Korea and Singapore's Li Jia Wei.

　　The proposal, from the ITTF executive committee, is expected to ignite heated debate when put on Saturday to the board, whose 32 members come from varying countries including China.

　　Under the plan, players aged over 21 will be barred for life for playing for their new country in world championships and the World Cup, Madsen said, although the proposal excludes the Olympics.

　　The proposal would not be retroactive and also not include the Pro Tour and other international events, Madsen said.

　　Players aged 15 to 17 would wait three years before competing for their new country, while those aged 18 to 21 will need to wait five years, he said.

　　He said the proposal was similar to ones in other sports where athletes switch countries to compete at the top level.

　　Officials said concerns existed that table tennis would fail to attract players at junior and senior levels if national teams simply chose players switching from China and other nations.

　　An alternative and watered down proposal, by the Swiss federation to be presented to the board if the first is voted down, allows players aged over 21 to play for their new country after five years, he said.