Chinese officials hit back at Zheng injury criticism

BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) The China Tennis Association (CTA) has hit back at criticism that it managed its players' injuries poorly after Zheng Jie lost in the first rounds of the singles and doubles at the French Open.

China's Olympic medical chief Li Guopeng has accused national coaches of over-training athletes and said Wimbledon doubles champion Zheng had played with an ankle injury at Roland Garros this month despite his advice to her to rest.

''Currently, there is some public misunderstanding about us, that the CTA is ignoring players' fitness for the Olympics. This is unreasonable,'' the Beijing Youth Daily quoted CTA spokesman Xie Miqing as saying.

''On the contrary, our attitude of responsibility for our players' fitness is the reason we are so cautious,'' Xie said, defending the CTA's lack of disclosure about Zheng's injury.

The CTA was still investigating Zheng's injury to see whether she would need surgery, Xie said.

REUTERS BJR BST1o55