TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Sports Administration sanctioned the national table tennis association for withdrawing the qualification for 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) for the upcoming World Table Tennis US Smash tournament in Las Vegas in July.

Yeh's qualification for the US tournament was revoked by the association due to a scheduling conflict, as it deemed it would be impossible for her to compete in both the Asian Youth Games in Uzbekistan (June 26 - July 2) and in the US (July 3 -13), per PTS.

Yeh is a promising young player supported by the domestic table tennis association as part of the Olympic development plan and a member of the U19 national team. In exchange for support, she is obligated to represent Taiwan in four international events: the World Championships, the Asian Championships, the World Youth Championships, and the Asian Youth Championships.

Taiwan's table tennis association suggested Yeh withdraw from the US tournament, with similar advice given to two other youth table tennis competitors, Chang Yu-an (張佑安) and Kuo Guan-hong (郭冠宏).  Yeh was the only competitor to defy the order, leading the association no choice but to revoke her qualification for the US tournament, effectively preventing her from competing.

Yeh's mother and her coach, Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵), protested the action. Her coach later sent a letter to the Sports Administration, which led to the ruling.

The Sports Administration ultimately sided with the player on Sunday, requiring the sport's governing body to issue a personal apology to Yeh; otherwise, face a suspension of funding and the removal of the association's secretary-general per Article 43 of the National Sports Act.