BUSAN, South Korea, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- As if reuniting with old friends, Ni Xialian once again graced the most prestigious stage in table tennis.
In a remarkable clash of generations, the 60-year-old player faced defeat in her opening match at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in Busan against Miwa Harimoto, who is 45 years her junior, in straight sets. As expected, Luxembourg lost 3-0 to Japan, a team that has reached the semifinals in the last four women's team events.
Ni fought valiantly in her first game, narrowly losing 12-10 to the Japanese teenager making her debut at the World Championships, before suffering 11-3 and 11-8 defeats in the subsequent games.
"I was aware of her exceptional skills and knew it would be a challenging match, but I was still eager to try. Regrettably, I couldn't secure a win in the first game," she expressed regretfully in an interview with Xinhua.
However, for Ni, who contributed to China's victories in the women's team and mixed doubles at the World Championships in 1983, participating in the Finals represents a significant achievement for Luxembourg, her home since retiring from China's team in the late 1980s.
"I am deeply honored. Luxembourg, with a population of around 650,000, sent a small delegation of just four members here: three players and one coach, without the support of a training partner, team leader, or doctor.
"It's a privilege for Luxembourg to compete in the Finals. Naturally, we aspire to perform better under these conditions," she stated.
Ni secured three European Championship titles between 1998 and 2002. However, her most notable achievements have come in recent years, well past the age of 50.
In the previous edition of the table tennis team worlds in Chengdu two years ago, Ni led Luxembourg to a decisive 3-1 victory over South Korea in the group stage, personally securing two points towards the end, which helped the team progress to the round of 16.
Now, starting her campaign in Busan against one of the title favorites, Ni recognized the challenge posed by differing styles of play across eras.
"It was challenging. Our daily training did not prepare us for such opponents, particularly in terms of serves. Despite understanding how to play against this non-European style, I found myself reverting to tactics ingrained over five decades. It was a real pity," she explained.
Luxembourg's group stage opponents include Japan, Brazil, Iran, and South Africa.
"We aim to finish as runners-up in our group. Japan has a distinct advantage, but every match against the other teams will be difficult," Ni acknowledged, emphasizing the unpredictability of an 11-point game.
"We give it our all, and our dreams might just become reality," the veteran player remarked.
Yet, Ni hesitated to set her sights beyond a second-place group finish, considering the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualification quotas available in Busan.
Up to eight Olympic quota spots for each team event at Paris 2024 will be awarded to teams reaching the quarterfinals in Busan that have not already secured quota berths.
"We dare not think about the quarterfinals. We performed well in Chengdu, defeating South Korea and reaching the last 16," Ni said. "Achieving that was already a significant accomplishment for us. It's important to remain grounded to avoid undue stress."
"We have our ambitions, but they must be realistic," the Luxembourgian veteran concluded. ■
