Ma, Wang in the race for national jobs
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, March 24, 2017
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Retired paddlers Ma Lin and Wang Hao will be competing for the national team coaching jobs with the National Sports Bureau requiring the new managers to be either Olympic gold medalists or world champions.
There are a total of 21 vacancies with the national team, including men's and women's head coach, and a general coach to overlook both men and women's teams. The bureau is insisting that a head coach or general coach has to be an Olympic gold medal winner or world champion, and must have at least a bachelor's degree.
According to Guangzhou Daily, former Olympic gold medalist Ma Lin, who is currently head coach of the Guangdong provincial team, is among the candidates for the job. The 37-year-old Ma is the only male player to win Olympic gold medals in singles, doubles and team events. His resume includes five World Cup titles — more than any other male player in history.
Ma told the paper he always wanted to coach the national team. He coached Guangdong-based Rio Olympic winner Liu Shiwen, who won the women's team gold.
Three-time World Cup champion Wang Hao is also in the running for the job. The 33-year-old has been coaching the Bayi team since his retirement in 2014. Wang is a three-time Olympic singles silver medalist.
Bureau officials will meet in Anshan, Liaoning Province, next week to pick their choice.
Till recently, former Olympic and world champion Kong Linghui served as the women's national team head coach, while his former doubles partner Liu Guoliang coached the men's team. Their contract runs out soon but can apply again to be considered.
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