Ace table tennis players Ma Lin and Zhang Yining have been named paddlers of 2006 for their feats during China's Table Tennis Super League last year.

China News Service reported on Thursday that the outstanding performances of Ma Lin and Zhang Yining, who represent Shaanxi Yinhe and Beijing Shouchuang, helped them become the champions of the men's and women's group competitions in the league matches.

On the same day, four venue holders from Beijing, Qian'an of Hebei and Jinzhou of Liaoning were presented with prizes for their excellent work in organizing league matches.

The director of the state table tennis administration, Liu Fengyan, revealed 20 teams will compete in league matches in 2007, with half of them playing in the men's events and the other half playing in the women's.

The deadline for registration of foreign players is March 31.

(CRI February 16, 2007)