Zhang Jike withdraws from team trials for World Championships

Zhang Jike [File photo: Xinhua]

Chinese table tennis star Zhang Jike has announced he's pulled out from the team trials for the World Table Tennis Championships set to be held in Germany in May.

Zhang Jike is citing a nagging foot injury as the reason.

He injured his foot at the end of last year, forcing him to miss the Qatar Open last month.

He did attempt to play at a tournament this past weekend, but lost all three of his matches.

Zhang Jike might still be able to qualify for the World Championships, but will have to do so at a suplimentarly qualifying round after Germany.