ying for the national lead.UP NEXTGardner Webb is at Kansa

SEOUL, South Korea -- Chinas overwhelming domination of table tennis at the Olympics will likely continue in Rio, but theres drama about just which member of the talented Chinese national team will prevail.Starting on Saturday, there will also be intense competition among the rest of the world for bronze and, just maybe, a surprise gold or silver.Among the other stories that could captivate: A 16-year-old American looks to make his name internationally, war-torn Syria gets its first Olympic table tennis entry and two female Paralympian athletes will also compete in Olympic matches.Even if its another largely all-China affair, fans who tune in will be treated to a mesmerizing mix of wicked spins and powerful slams, with players rocketing the small, lightweight, white plastic ball at each other in a blur of slicing parabolas.Heres a look at what to expect from the worlds most popular racket sport, otherwise known as pingpong:---THE CHINA SCRAMBLEJust qualifying for a Chinese team that has taken home 24 of 28 gold medals since table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988, and all the golds at the past two Games, is a major achievement.For instance, the current womens world No. 1, Liu Shiwen, didnt get one of her countrys two spots for singles, though she will be part of the team competition.Instead, it will be London champion Li Xiaoxia, now ranked No. 5, and reigning world champion and world No. 2 Ding Ning, who won silver in London, going to Rio in singles.For the mens side, current world No. 2 Fan Zhendong, a rising young star, and world No. 3 Xu Xin didnt make the Chinese singles team.London champion Zhang Jike, who was named after Brazilian soccer star Zico, will go to Rio in singles, despite being ranked No. 4 in the world and putting in erratic performances since London. Zhang, for instance, lost in the first round of a June tournament in South Korea to a player from Taiwan ranked No. 63 at the time.The other Chinese man for singles will be Ma Long, the current world No. 1, who lost in the finals of that South Korean tournament to Xu Xin.---THE REST OF THE WORLDAlthough still a source of national pride, some see a dip in table tennis popularity as China has become richer, more confident and more curious about other sports.The rest of the world, meanwhile, has been working to catch up. Theyve been helped by a rule that limits each country to only two players for each singles event; that gives everyone else a chance for medals, though mostly of the bronze variety.While China has the top three womens spots currently in the world rankings, there are three Japanese in the top 10, as well as one player each from Germany and Singapore.For men, China takes the top four spots, but after that comes players from Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Belarus and South Korea.The United States has never medaled in table tennis, but there is excitement about the future. Kanak Jha, now 16, was the youngest male to qualify for table tennis in Olympic history when he made the U.S. team in April while still 15.---DOUBLE DUTYTwo female Paralympian table tennis athletes will also compete in the Olympic games -- a first, according to table tennis officials.Natalia Partyka of Poland, who was born without a right hand and forearm, has been in the past two Summer Olympics, in Beijing and London. Partyka has also won gold three times at the Paralympics.It is the first Olympics for Melissa Tapper of Australia, whose right arm has nerve damage.---SYRIASyria will send its first player to an Olympic table tennis tournament, despite a long, calamitous war.Heba Allejji will represent Syria in Rio after being awarded a special place in the table tennis competition.The 19-year-old is currently ranked No. 713 in the world.She has competed in international competitions before, including the 2016 Asian Olympic qualifiers and the World Tour Qatar Open.---Foster Klug, APs bureau chief in Seoul, South Korea, is covering table tennis and badminton in Rio. Follow him at www.twitter/apklug Daniel Jones Womens Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Dexter Lawrence Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Oshane-Ximines-Jersey/ . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Mark Bavaro Womens Jersey .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Saquon Barkley Jersey . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. KEARNS, Utah -- Skaters know theyre not going to be posting the same times early in the ISU World Cup season as they will later on, but theres the hope of getting off to a good start.The United States had three men and two women advance to the elimination rounds of the ISU World Cup short track speed skating session Friday.Last week I really wanted to be top 16 and it went way better than that, two-time Olympic medalist Katherine Reutter said. This week I think I can be a little more hopeful. Id be really happy if I was in the top eight, but I wouldnt be upset if I was in the top 12. ... Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.The season is long. ... The way you race in November may have almost nothing to do with how you race in March. ... I know things can come and go really quickly.Keith Carroll Jr. moved on to the semifinal in the 1,500 meters (2:13.153) and 1,000 despite being taken out in the 1,000. Carroll Jr., however, fell during the 5,000-meter relay to take the U.S. out of contention. Teammate John-Henry Krueger advanced in both 1,500 divisions.Being here at home, I want to have a good showing, Carroll said. The relay event, I definitely feel like were one of the faster teams. We can keep up with anyone. It was really disappointting to go down in the first round like that.ddddddddddddIndividually, my No. 1 goal is always try to get through this first day and qualify for the World Cup round. ... Saturday and Sunday will be ultra-competitive. I just want to have a really good showing.Reutter starred for the women by qualifying in both the 1,000 (1:31.166) and 1,500 (2:25.940).Ryan Pivirotto and Jessica Kooreman both qualified for the 1,500 semifinals.China, South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan and Canada all had strong days on the mens side as they advanced in the 5,000 relay and had all four members of the team move on in at least one other event.Today went pretty decent, U.S. mens coach Anthony Barthell said. Had a couple guys that I thought would make it through the first round, but didnt make it. But it was a good learning experience.(The goal was) to try to have as many people in the quarterfinals and semis as possible. Right now were on t