Ni Xia Lian Wins Bronze at European Games 2019; Becomes Oldest Table Tennis Player to Qualify For 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Ni Xia Lian of Luxembourg wins a bronze medal in the ongoing European Games at the age of 55. The China-born player also secures a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The veteran won by 4-2 against Yang Xiaoxin of Monaco who is also a Chinese-born player co-incidentally.
They say age is just a number and Ni Xia Lian of Luxembourg has certainly proved this quote right. The table tennis player won a bronze medal in the ongoing European Games at the age of 55 and became one of the oldest players to win a medal in this competition. The China-born Ni also secured a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games courtesy this victory. The veteran beat Yang Xiaoxin of Monaco by 4-2. Interestingly, Yang Xiaoxin is also a Chinese-born player. This Fan-Made Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics Logo Design Officially Wins The Internet Today! Check Out Photos.
The Olympian also holds the record for the longest table tennis match played in modern times. The match involved Honoka Hashimoto in 2017. Ni won the match eventually after spending 1 hour, 32 minutes and 44 seconds in the contest. The match came at the Seamaster ITTF World Tour Hybiome Austrian Open in 2017. IOC to Oversee Tokyo 2020 Boxing As AIBA Stripped of Olympic Status.
If the table tennis star opts to participate in next year’s Olympic games then she will become the oldest table tennis player to play in the Olympics. The oldest player to play Olympics is Oscar Swahn of Sweden who participated in the mega-event at the age of 72 while participating in the 1920 Olympics. While Great Britain’s Lorna Johnstone was the oldest female athlete to compete in the Olympics at the age of 70 when she took part in the 1972 Berlin Games.
One of Ni's biggest achievements came when she won the world team championship for China way back in 1983. In 1989, she moved to Germany with her husband and two years later got settled in Luxembourg. Ni took a five-year break from 2002 to 2007 before making a comeback in the game.
Of late, sports of all kinds, be it tennis or team games, are witnessing increased life-span of players willing to push the limits. However, achievements in sports once a sportsperson has gone past his or her prime are still rare. Ni Xia Lian, who has already featured in four Olympic games, is all set to participate in her fifth Olympics proving that where there is will and skill, there's a way as well.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2019 09:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).