Guangzhou Gymnasium, where the table tennis is taking place, is in the north-west of the Chinese metropolis of over 10 million people, but the athletes' village is to the south-east. -Photo by AP

GUANGZHOU: Table tennis coaches and players complained Monday about the gruelling bus ride they face to their Asian Games venue, fearing it could hamper their performances.

“I think the first thing we must do is to make our players adapt to the strange arrangement for the finals, as well as the travel troubles everyday,”said Shi Zhihao, head coach of China’s formidable women’s team.

Guangzhou Gymnasium, where the table tennis is taking place, is in the north-west of the Chinese metropolis of over 10 million people, but the athletes’ village is to the south-east.

“Maybe we have to reserve some hotel rooms nearby,” Shi told the Xinhua news agency, also hitting out at the tight scheduling of matches and the limited places at the competition venue for players to rest between games.

Taiwan’s Huang Yi-hua was similarly unimpressed.

“Guangzhou Gymnasium is far away from where we live, so we have to take a bus for about two hours to get to the gymnasium,” Huang said after her 3-0 victory over India in the mixed doubles on Monday.

“I feel a little tired,” she added.

The Chinese women’s team have nevertheless lived up to their tag as pre-tournament favourites and are through to the semi-finals. -AFP