India, Feb. 6 -- Massimo Costantini has received several interview requests by Chinese media over the past few months. The line of questioning, explained the head coach of Indian table tennis, all revolves around the same thing: the constant use of the long pimple rubber by Indian women.

"They are very interested in India's development," he told HT, on the sidelines of the recently concluded 86th Senior National Championships in Surat.

Over the past few years, while Chinese paddlers have stomped their way through competitions with little fuss, they have been beaten time and again by the Indian women who use the peculiar rubber on the backhand side of their bats.

The World Team Championships last year was particularly alarming for China...