Chinanews.com, Chengdu, October 6th, question: Chinese veteran Ni Xialian ends the "Wonderful Tour of World Table Tennis": there are regrets, only treasures
Reporter He Shaoqing
"People need to be content, or people need to be realistic. There are many matches I didn't win, and there are always regrets in life, right?" On the evening of the 5th, the Luxembourg women's team led by 59-year-old Chinese veteran Ni Xialian lost to Portugal. , missed the quarter-finals, marking the end of her journey in the Chengdu World Table Tennis Championships team competition.
Looking at her husband and coach Danielson, who has been with her, Ni Xialian's eyes reddened, but the cheerful "Ping-Pong Grandma" quickly adjusted her state.
She explained her short-term loss after the game in this way - "You have regrets, and you will cherish the time you win. So if I win, I have to jump up, because I don't have many chances to win, and I have to grab the last tail. "
Although she lost the game, when Ni Xialian dragged her trolley case and walked into the mixed mining area, many staff members, reporters and even the contestants who were interviewed on the other side applauded and waved to her.
Ni Xialian during the game.
Photo courtesy of ITTF
"Entering the second stage, every team is a strong team. I want to congratulate them for playing better than us." Ni Xialian generously praised the opponent.
At the same time, she also described the achievements of the Luxembourg women's team in this World Table Tennis Championships as "unexpected to dream" and "history has been created".
As Ni Xialian said, her battle in the Chengdu World Table Tennis Championships team competition is indeed a wonderful journey.
As the oldest contestant in this tournament, Ni Xialian played eight times in six match days and led the Luxembourg women's team to break through the group stage.
The upset defeat of "Han Ping's first sister" Tian Zhixi in the first game is certainly surprising, but in the long career of the veteran, such records are too numerous to enumerate.
What motivates fans and wins the respect of opponents is never the victory or defeat of a single game, but Ni Xialian's words after losing to Singapore in the group match - "I will never give up".
She said that you can forgive yourself if you don't have the ability, but you can't forgive if you don't work hard.
In the Chengdu World Table Tennis Championships team competition, Ni Xialian did use the "will to fight" to interpret the "charm of sports".
You know, this "table tennis grandma" arrived in Chengdu after two transfers from Luxembourg, and showed up at the training hall before the jet lag.
No wonder he is persevering and diligent like Malone, and he also publicly stated on the show that this senior is his idol.
"I want to tell the children that it is time to be satisfied with making history before the age of 60." Ni Xialian said that most of the Luxembourg women's team players are not professionals. It's going to be very, very exciting - "but people always want to be better, that's understandable, the game is so cruel, one has to lose."
Chinese veteran Ni Xialian.
Photo courtesy of ITTF
Previously, Ni Xialian was interviewed by the media in the mixed mining area. Danielson always stood three meters away, carrying a backpack and watching silently.
On the evening of the 5th, when the last mixed mining was about to end, Ni Xialian unexpectedly signaled Danielson to come to her side, face the media's long guns and short guns with her, and take a group photo.
"I am his wife, the mother of the children, and a player. He is my punching bag, my massage therapist, and my coach. As long as I want to train, he will accompany me at eleven or twelve in the middle of the night. Training." Ni Xialian said that he has been fighting all year round, thanks to Danielson's selfless contribution, without his support, he would not be where he is today.
"What do you think of Legend?" Hearing the reporter's question, Ni Xialian, who had already left the mixed mining area, stopped.
"What I understand is to make what seems impossible possible, right?" Ni Xialian recalled her experience from participating in the Fourth National Games in 1979 to the present - so many years have passed, it is possible in the world table tennis arena "Hit a dozen".
The girl who took silver in the country back then did not expect her "Wonderful Tour of World Table Tennis" in Chengdu more than 40 years later.
Ni Xialian said that for a professional table tennis player, 30 years old is not a young age. Looking back on the past, he is only relieved, because opportunities and challenges are always together.
(Finish)