Liu Shiwen has also been left out of the women's singles team for Rio despite being ranked world number one.

In what must be among the toughest selection processes in sport, 2011 and 2013 world champion and world ranked number four Zhang was selected over second ranked teenager Fan Zhendong and third ranked Xu Xin.

He will join top ranked world champion Ma Long, who had already secured his spot at the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Xu will join Ma and Zhang in the team event while Fan will miss out completely.

This comes after the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) limited each country to a maximum of two singles spots ahead of London 2012.

A major reason for this decision was to limit Chinese domination, with the Asian powerhouse having won all four titles available in the sport at each of the last two Games.

Zhang is rewarded despite a loss of form in recent years.

The 28-year-old was stripped of his $45,000 (£28,000/€36,000) prize money in 2014 after demolishing two advertising hoardings when celebrating victory over Ma at the World Cup in Dusseldorf.

He beat Ma to the Kuwait Open title earlier this year but then lost to Xu in the final of the Asian Cup in Dubai.

Liu will have to be content with the team event in the women's competition after being overlooked for singles selection.

Reigning Olympic champion Li Xiaoxia and world champion Ding Ning, the London silver medallist, have taken the two spots as their experience was prioritised. 

Liu's shock defeat to Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem at the Asian Olympic Qualifier last month may have contributed to the decision.

“In the last four years, Liu Shiwen’s performance was not bad," said Chinese coach Kong Linghui, men's singles champion at Sydney 2000.

"However, since last year until now, she lost a total of three matches against foreign opponents.

"Considering this aspect, the coaching staff ultimately decided to report Ding Ning in the singles and Liu Shiwen to play in the team competition.”