Zhang Guozheng, 2004 Athens Olympic weightlifting champion, is at the center of a dramatic tug-of-war between China's Yunnan and Shanxi provinces since he will most certainly be a title contender at next year's Olympics in Beijing .

Zhang represented Yunnan Province during his gold medal win in Athens three years ago, but now he claims to represent Shanxi. Each province, in turn, has claimed Zhang as its own.

Athens Olympic weightlifting champion Zhang Guozheng has been involved in a tug-of-war between China's Yunnan and Shanxi provinces. Both sides want him to be a registered member in order to collect a "profitable return" if Zhang defends his Olympic title in the Beijing Olympic Games next year.

Winning an Olympic gold medal undoubtedly brings global glory for both an individual and his country. But in China, winning is also a big deal for the province, autonomous region or municipality where the athlete has registered.

China's hukou, or household registration system, is the main factor behind this struggle between regions. Every national team member represents the province in which he is registered. The more champions a province produces, the more financial support it gets from the State General Administration of Sports (SGAS), the governing body for all Chinese sports. Moreover, a province's sporting achievements go a long way toward the political future of provincial officials in charge of sports.

In 1995, Zhang, who was actually born in Fujian Province, registered in Yunnan. Zhang's victory in 2004 made him the first Olympic champion from that province, located in southwest China.

But Zhang decided to switch to Shanxi recently, claiming his contract with Yunnan had expired early this year, even though Yunnan insisted the rules allow it to retain the preferential rights to Zhang and extend the contract.

"Yunnan did not give me the basic salary in the last two years. They just want their interests from my sporting career," Zhang said, addressing his reasons for the switch.

Zhang's form began to slump after 2004 and the weightlifter said Yunnan refused to extend its contract with him because the province regarded him as no longer "a valuable person".

"Even after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, officials from the province's sports bureau showed hatred towards me, which made me so sad. I know because I only finished fourth in Sydney and they thought I had no value anymore," Zhang said. "To make it worse, in 2002 during my training for the national team, they did not give me any financial or medical support."

But officials from Yunnan told a press conference that it was Zhang who refused to sign the contract.

"I know Zhang Guozheng has switched to Shanxi, but it does not mean we have given up the preferential right," said He Guangyu, who is in charge of athletics for the Yunnan Sports Bureau. "Last year we asked him to register but he said 'no' due to the salary problem. Now he signed with another province and it's unacceptable."

In China, athletes have the right to choose their province of registration. Many, understandably, turn to those provinces that promise to provide the best financial, medical and technical support.

Zhang and Yunnan were in a honeymoon phase after the Athens Olympics. But it did not last long, as Zhang failed to win even the national championship in 2005.

"The contract expired last year. I have not taken any salary or training allowance since then. I have nothing to do with Yunnan right now," Zhang said.

"I signed with Shanxi, which has been approved by the administrative center. Shanxi's promise convinced me to move."

Zhang, now 33, made a strong return in September after winning the world title in the 69kg class. He has once again emerged as a gold-medal contender for the Beijing Olympics.

"I represented Shanxi when I won the world championships in September. I know the prime time of career was closely linked to Yunnan. But it's a trade agreement and it's now over (with Yunnan)."

The final result is yet to be ruled on by the SGAS, but the rift has disrupted Zhang's training schedule.

"I am almost devastated. My daily training is badly affected. I just hope it'll be settled as soon as possible," Zhang said. "I want to be focused on the preparation and reach the best form in the Beijing Olympics."

Ma Wenguang, Director of the Weightlifting, Wrestling and Judo Administrative Center under SGAS said it is a technicality issue and not difficult to deal with.

"As long as both sides obey the rules, it's not complicated to settle the dispute. We will announce the final decision soon," he said.

Similar cases to Zhang's have happened frequently in China.

Snooker sensation Ding Junhui has been chased by Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong Province and Jiangsu Province after the teenager became one of the world's elite players.

China's first male Winter Olympic gold medalist Han Xiaopeng also suffered the headache after winning freestyle skiing aerials in Turin last year, as Liaoning Province and Heilongjiang Province fought over him.

And in basketball, Beijing and Xinjiang went to war over the rights of former NBA player Menk Bateer. China Basketball Association (CBA) finally ruled Bateer belonged to Xinjiang, despite Beijing's bitter protests.

(China Daily October 26, 2007)