"Players and the manufacturer who provides the official ball to the Olympic table tennis tournament accused a New York Times report of being 'exaggerating and untrue'"

NC:

"Yes, I talked with that reporter for about 15 minutes. I said the ITTF's (International Table Tennis Federation) changes to equipment had affected my play but I didn't complain about the match ball. I have got used to this new plastic ball," he said.

"What the reporter wrote about was untrue and he is unprofessional."

The ITTF changed the material of the ball from celluloid to plastic two years ago in an attempt to reduce the speed of the game and make the sport more viewer friendly.

Double Happiness, the match ball producer, was not happy.