Table tennis officials can't play favorites. But there's no doubt they were relieved when South Korea's men reached Wednesday's gold-medal match against China.

The ITTF is always hopeful of someone challenging China's dominance. Chinese officials know they need strong rivals and they try to tutor foreign players and admit them to Chinese sports schools.

But a China vs. Hong Kong final would have amounted to China vs. China.

All three Hong Kong players were born in mainland China, but moved to Hong Kong after failing to make China's team. Nearly every nation playing pingpong at the Olympics has China-born players.

A reporter asked several Hong Kong players the other day if they were loyal to Hong Kong or China. "If it's China or Hong Kong, it's the same," Tang Peng said.

At least one Hong Kong player got upset with the question, saying foreigners ask "stupid questions."

— Stephen Wade — Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP

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EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.