Doubles may be scrapped in favour of team events

Table tennis men's and women's doubles events look set to be scrapped for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in favour of team tournaments.

International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) president Adham Sharara is to apply for the change after failing to get the principle of a mixed doubles event accepted.

Sharara told the federation's website: "We told the IOC that an inclusion of mixed doubles would not mean an increased number of athletes, but we have to accept the position of the IOC which is not to increase either the number of athletes or the number of events.

"We were also told that it is too late to change anything for Athens, so now we put our hopes in Beijing."

The ITTF is now working on a format for a new Olympic event for men's and women's teams - with doubles included - though the overall quota of players would remain at 172.

Sharara said: "The response we have had from the IOC gives me reason to believe that the change could be accepted. It would be great to introduce a new team event at the Olympics in China where table tennis is one of the top sports."