Australia's top-ranked women's table tennis player from the past 15 years is on the brink of missing selection for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Miao Miao, who won silver and bronze at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games, has lost three of her opening four matches at this weekend's selection trials on the Gold Coast.
Only the top three men and women will have their names put forward to the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, with a further two names to be added at the head coach's discretion.
After losing her first two matches on Friday, Miao made a better start on Saturday with an 11-7 14-12 12-10 11-5 win over Sarah Tan.
But she was then beaten 11-7 11-6 9-11 11-4 11-9 by 23-year-old Paralympian Melissa Tapper, who is hoping to earn selection for her first able-bodied Games.
Chinese-born Miao Miao has been to three Commonwealth Games and four Olympics, and has been the standout female player in Australia since she arrived in the country in 1997.
In men's action, Australian No.1 William Henzell is unbeaten in the qualifying event.
Four-time Olympian Jian Fang Lay has been the dominant player in the women's draw and is unbeaten after four matches.
