(Sports Focus) Ma-Boll pairing the biggest draw in table tennis worlds

China made sure they wouldn't sweep the board as what they had been doing tediously for a decade, by sending less perfect pairs to doubles events in the 2013 individual world table tennis championships in Paris.

It worked.

Chinese Taipei and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea each picked a gold medal before Chinese single-handedly won the blue-ribbon singles titles plus a women's doubles.

For the 2015 world championships that will open Saturday afternoon, Chinese will pair up with foreign players in doubles, with Ma Long's partnership with German Timo Boll set to be the biggest draw of all.

"We are determined to help the rest of the world to raise the standard of the game," said Chinese head coach Liu Guoliang. "We are also promoting Chinese table tennis culture."

Liu would love to see the world top-ranked Ma Long and No. 7 Boll split the men's doubles gold although he admitted the two players lacked practice together.

"They will be a spectacle in the championships," said Liu. "I believe everyone wants to see Ma and Boll to top the podium together," said Liu.

Liu tips Chinese Xu Xin's pairing with South Korean Yang Haeun as a favorite for the mixed doubles crown. However, they face stiff challenge from Chinese Chen Meng and Frenchman Emmanuel Lebesson.

In the women's doubles, Chinese Li Xiaodan will partner with Nanthana Komwong from Thailand.

For transnational duos, language won't be a problem.

"Boll is learning Chinese and Ma Long is learning English," said Liu. "They can meet in the middle."

"The German team has Chinese-speaking coaches, too," he added.

Komwong, who speaks Chinese, has been regularly chatting with Li Xiaodan on WeChat, the most popular messaging App for Chinese.

"We are experimenting on transnational pairing and I don't know if it will last long," said Liu. "How many gold medals China will win is no longer important. I am only concerned about how to raise the level of the game in the world."

While seemingly taking it easy on doubles, China will be still all out for the marquee events.

Zhang Jike, a "Grand Slam" winner of the Olympic, world championships and World Cup men's singles titles, will fight for his third straight singles crown.

The flamboyant player, who was fined his entire prize money of over 50,000 US dollars after destroying two advertising boards in the 2014 Qatar Open, has returned to top form after reportedly losing fighting spirit.

"After close-door training, Zhang Jike has found his form and he is hungry again," said Liu.

For No. 3 ranked Zhang, threats might come from the world top two - Ma Long and Xu Xin, as well as younger teammate Fan Zhendong, the Youth Olympics gold medalist.

China's 2012 Olympic champion Li Xiaoxia is bidding to be the first woman to defend world singles title in 10 years.

"Li Xiaoxia has rekindled an inner fire after she had been struggling for a while," said her coach Li Sun, who had also guided Wang Nan and Zhang Yining to the 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold respectively.

The biggest challenge to Li will be 2011 champion Ding Ning, the losing finalist in the 2012 Olympics. China's world No. 2 Liu Shiwen is also waiting to take over.

The Suzhou world championships will witness a bunch of oldies to prove that age is not a barrier.

Belgium's Jean-Michel Saive, 45, a seven-time Olympian, is playing his 12 consecutive world singles championships, while Luxembourg's Ni Xialian, 52, is competing in her 15th straight, including the first two for China.

The oldest player is Spain's He Zhiwen, a former Chinese player who will celebrate his 53rd birthday next month.

"I have nothing to lose and I am playing for fun," said He.

The non-celluloid plastic ball will make a world championships debut after it last year replaced the traditional celluloid ball which is made of a flammable material.

The new ball has less spin and is a bit slower, ensuring longer rallies and more action.

Moreover, it is safer and much more cost-effective. Endi