I wonder how many times I have seen this thread subject pop up over the years.
The answers have been given.
1) China recruits and trains kids for CNT and Provincial teams from a young age.
2) China puts a lot of money into the sport.
3) By a fairly young age, kids who are talent prospects get put in special schools so they can train TT 6 hours a day.
4) Parents like the idea of their child having a good career since the government pays players a salary; their kid may even become one of the top players.
5) Sheer numbers.
6) Since it is the national sport, soooooo many people play it.
Scouting kids from age 4 for talent and putting the good prospects in a TT school by age 6-8 is huge though. By age 12, most of the top prospects in China have had more training time than most 18 year olds in Europe. That kind of head start is really amazing.
Anyone remember that video of Dan playing that 12 year old in China and getting shellacked?