(Photo: Xinhua)

China's table tennis legend Liu Guoliang was elected as new president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association on Saturday in Beijing.

Liu, the world's most decorated table tennis coach, was named head of a preparatory group for the general election of the Chinese Table Tennis Association in September, and since then has headed the association during the transitional period.

After guiding China's all-conquering men's squad and then the entire national program since 2003, Liu was removed from his head coach position in June 2017 amid speculation over his involvement in then women's coach Kong Linghui's discipline violation over a gambling debt.

Kong was also Liu's former doubles partner.

The 42-year-old Liu, a double gold medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was later named the 19th vice-president of the CTTA in an adjustment interpreted by the General Administration of Sport of China as a move to decentralize decision-making powers and streamline team management.