World top-ranked Chinese Ma Lin withdrew from the ongoing Asian table tennis championships on Thursday, citing health reasons.

Ma, who overtook teammate and world champion Wang Liqin in the latest world rankings, had played only one match in China's run to the men's team top honor.

"Ma Lin will no longer play individual events," said Chinese men's team head coach Liu Guoliang. "He doesn't feel well since the end of the Chinese table tennis league early this month."

Liu, the men's singles final winner over Ma Lin in the 1999 world championships, added the withdrawal of Ma will more or less affect China's campaign to retain all the men's golds.

"Now the pressure is on younger players," he said.

Benching Wang Liqin, China sent Wang Hao, Ma Long, Chen Qi and Hao Shuai to the Yangzhou championships which will end on Sunday.

"I have faith in the young Chinese players," said Liu.

Ma, three-time world runner-up, also picked the men's singles silver in 2005 and 2007, both losing to Wang Liqin.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2007)