Grandma Ni inspires at WTT China Smash with resilience and heart

BEIJING -- A respected table tennis veteran and heartwarming grandmother, 61-year-old Chinese-born Ni Xialian, representing Luxembourg, left fans with touching memories and smiles at the ongoing World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash held at Beijing's Shougang Park.

Despite being defeated in straight sets by the sixth-seeded Mima Ito of Japan in the women's singles second round, Ni expressed both helplessness and heartfelt gratitude to her home supporters.

"Offensively and defensively, I could do nothing else. Who can tell me how to win?" Ni reflected. "My style is slow, but she [Ito] is fast. My changes of landing and spinning were not effective at all. Her fast and smooth returns made me struggle."

Ni gave it her all on the court, making active moves and adjusting her serves and returns, but the attempts did not yield success.

The Chinese crowd was eager to see their "Grandma Ni" advance further in the tournament. During the second set, Ni scored with an unexpected forehand straight, surprising the 23-year-old Ito. Ni then gave herself a thumbs-up amid the roaring applause.

"Ito deserves the win, but I should have made more points," Ni noted.

The veteran simply wanted to perform her best at home, motivated by the warm cheers. "Your Grandma Ni really wanted to win this game, but failed. I am so sorry to let the fans down," she said, her eyes wet with tears.

This was Ni's first time competing in Beijing since the 2008 Olympic Games, and she was impressed by the city's development, particularly during the 75th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

In March this year, Beijing won the bid to host the WTT China Smash from 2024 to 2028, with the first edition of the 11-day tournament coinciding with China's National Day holiday.

The China Smash, the third and final WTT Grand Smash event of 2024, is also the largest international table tennis event held in the Chinese capital since the 1961 World Championships.

"It is absolutely a smart decision to transform the industrial zone of Shougang into a modern and beautiful resort. The crowd here supported me a lot and said 'welcome back home' to me, which really moved me," Ni remarked.

The Shougang Park, which also features venues from the Beijing Winter Olympics, has been transformed to host the China Smash. The WTT event features a prize pool of $2 million, with champions of each of the five events earning 2,000 ITTF world ranking points.

Though Grandma Ni was knocked out early in the tournament after three matches, she always maintained a warm smile.

After Ni defeated Chien Tung-Chuan of Chinese Taipei 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 in the women's singles first round, her infectious smile shone through in a brief interview. "I enjoy the China Smash so much, but the schedule is not friendly to elderly players," Ni laughed, referring to her busy pairing with Luxembourg's Luka Mladenovic in the mixed doubles the same day.

Facing the Chinese duo Xue Fei and Qian Tianyi last Sunday, Ni and Mladenovic played with great energy but lost in four close sets: 8-11, 13-11, 9-11, 15-17. Mladenovic, 25, felt disappointed after the match, but Ni encouraged him like a family member.

"We were so excited about the game and even wanted to serve for an ace. We tried our best and had a big chance, but this is sports. You never know what will happen next," Ni said to her partner. "Young players progress gradually. You've done a good job. Just move on."

Mladenovic, who has played with Grandma Ni since he was a boy, spoke highly of her, saying, "She is already a master. Her attitude at this age is like a world champion's and so inspiring, always fighting to improve. She has helped me a lot in life like a friend." He believes that Ni will influence more kids in Luxembourg and inspire people worldwide to play table tennis and enjoy life.

In their mixed doubles match, the spectators gave almost equal support to both the Chinese and Luxembourg teams.

"I really understand them," Ni said afterward. "They were willing to see both Team China and their grandma win. I am satisfied that we put on a great performance for the fans."

At the Paris Olympics, Ni was defeated by top-ranked Sun Yingsha in the singles round of 32 and helped the Chinese favorite prepare for the unfamiliar playing style of DPRK players with her unique left-handed, long-pimpled technique and abundant experience.

"Both Ni and I enjoyed the match at the Olympics, and her experience in transition and resilience is top-level in the world," said the 23-year-old Sun. "Auntie Ni helped and inspired me a lot. She still plays table tennis and competes around the world, setting an example for our younger generation."

Stories of Grandma Ni in Paris have brought more young Chinese fans to learn about the veteran, who made China's national team in 1979, won two golds at the 1983 World Championships, and eventually settled in Luxembourg in 1991.

Her supporters, particularly the younger ones, remain close to Ni's heart. She recalled a moment when a young fan waited in the cold for her autograph. "Everyone was so nice to me, and I am so moved. My birth country nurtured me to start my table tennis life, and I am really proud to see China developing so quickly."

While Ni performed well in the tournament, the journey was not without challenges. "Passion alone can't bring us success. We need to be brave and persistent when facing challenges. I hope younger generations can learn from my experience," Ni said.

When asked about possibly continuing to play in the Los Angeles Olympics, Ni replied, "There will be new challenges in the next four years. Let's see how it goes."