DPRK accuses Tokyo for barring athletes from table tennis
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-08-24 14:31
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday expressed
strong anger over Japan for barring its players from participating in table
tennis matches in Japan, the official news agency reported.
In a statement issued by the DPRK Table Tennis Association (TTA), TTA
criticized Japanese authority for prohibiting DPRK players' participation in the
Children's Table Tennis Championships with unacceptable political motivation.
"It is obvious that the organizing committee of the championships sent the
notice to our association under the pressure of the Japanese authorities," the
TTA said.
"The Japanese authorities can never flee from the responsibility for having
barred the DPRK team from participating in...through a politically motivated
interference in the noble sports games," said the TTA.
The TTA also urged the International Table Tennis Federation and the Table
Tennis Federation of Asia "to pay a serious attention to the case and take a
necessary measure".
The 15th East Asia Children's Table Tennis Championships will be held in
Osaka in Japan.
Since DPRK test-fired missiles in early last month, Tokyo has imposed series
of sanction measures on DPRK, including prohibiting DPRK civilians' entry into
Japan.
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