The years are merciless, and time flies. When Ni Xialian, who has entered the age of sixties, sits on the rocking chair in her Luxembourg apartment, her weathered but still firm eyes reveal deep nostalgia, as if leading us through time and space to return to her once brilliant table tennis career.
Looking back, she remembers the glorious history of the Luxembourg national team and the success of major international competitions after becoming a member of the national team. In 1983, as a key player of the Luxembourg team, she won the highest honor of the world championship with her outstanding performance, which not only wrote a new chapter in the history of the Luxembourg women's table tennis team, but also opened a new chapter in her career.
Since 1991, she has always been in the camp of the Luxembourg national team, and has won the women's singles championship at the European Championships three times, which can be called the undefeated myth of dominating the European table tennis world.
In the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Ni Xialian finally realized her dream for many years, successfully entered the Olympic arena, and achieved a proud record in the top 16 in the competition. Since then, she has never missed a single Olympics, whether it is in Beijing, London or Rio de Janeiro.
On the field, every wonderful swing of the racket, every key moment of the score, is like yesterday. Her hands involuntarily clenched into fists, as if she once again felt the determination to fight to the end.
However, behind these brilliant achievements, she has also experienced low points in her life. When she was young, she was a member of the Chinese national team and carried the expectations of countless people. However, due to her short stature, she was only 157 cm tall and was considered a congenital disadvantage at the time.
In that highly competitive environment, she began to question whether she could still break through. There are many newcomers, all of whom are extraordinary and energetic. Compared to them, the 22-year-old feels as if she has reached the end of her career.
Intense stress and anxiety gradually eroded her psyche, and finally in 1983, she reluctantly chose to end her national team career early.
After retiring, Ni Xialian chose to go to Shanghai Jiao Tong University to continue her studies. Although she said goodbye to the arena for the time being, the flame of love for table tennis in her heart has never been extinguished.
Whenever she recalls the glorious moments when she burned her blood on the field, she can always deeply feel the true meaning and endless power of life. In those passionate days, she was fortunate to team up with Cao Yanhua and Guo Yuehua, the leaders of the Chinese table tennis team, and with her exquisite skills and team strength, she defeated the Japanese team that had the upper hand.
Ni Xialian, who has achieved success in her studies, has strengthened her determination to recover her lost table tennis dream. She knows that restarting her career in China will undoubtedly mean a difficult and tortuous lonely road. In a talent-filled arena, she will be in fierce competition with a rapid influx of new players, and is likely to be pressured once again to question her lack of talent and not be able to fully demonstrate her true strength. However, abroad, Ni Xialian may be able to continue to adhere to her love for table tennis without regrets and display her talents. Therefore, she resolutely embarked on a colorful overseas training journey, and finally found a new stage of her own in the Luxembourg national team.
Life is always full of unexpected opportunities, and when Ni Xialian officially joined the Luxembourg national team, she would never have predicted that this decision would not only open a new chapter in her career, but also bring her lifelong friend - Tommy.
Tommy Ben is an extraordinary table tennis player who was ranked in the top 10 in the world during the prime of his career. However, at the age of 21, he did not hesitate to choose to retire and turn to a coaching career. After training in Australia and Germany, Tommy was finally appointed head coach of the Luxembourg national team.
It was in this position that Tommy and Ni Xialian's fates began to be closely linked. In the course of training day after day, Tommy was deeply moved by Ni Xialian's perseverance. Although she is petite, her skills are amazing, which fully proves that table tennis is not only about size, but more importantly, perseverance and skill. Ni Xialian is also deeply intoxicated by Tommy's professional guidance and professionalism. With the passage of time, the relationship between teachers and students gradually warmed up and turned into a more fiery spark on the field. This like-minded couple met, met, and fell in love on the stage of table tennis.
Since meeting Tommy, Ni Xialian has been like a phoenix nirvana, rekindling her passion and firm belief in table tennis. Under Tommy's all-round care and protection, she successfully got rid of the shadow in her heart and once again devoted herself to this beloved sport.
Whenever the game is played, Tommy always waits silently on the edge of the court, conveying endless inspiration and strength with his affectionate gaze. His gaze was like a beam of warm sunlight, penetrating every corner of Ni Xialian's heart. And when the game is over, no matter what the result is, Ni Xialian will always throw herself into Tommy's arms without hesitation, sharing the joy of victory or the tears of defeat with him.
Tommy illustrates what it means to be loving. He pays attention to every detail of the game and provides pertinent advice, as if a great coach is carefully guiding his beloved disciples. He is more like seeing Ni Xialian as an important part of his life, sharing the joys and hardships of life with her.
Ni Xialian also said frankly that it was Tommy's selfless care that gave her a strong motivation to move forward. With his support, she regained her love for table tennis and rebuilt her fighting spirit and self-confidence.
Along the way, the relationship between Ni Xialian and Tommy has been tempered by years of baptism and reality, and it is still as tenacious and warm as ever. They are like a pair of warriors fighting side by side, achieving each other and supporting each other. Perhaps it is precisely because of having such a confidant partner that Ni Xialian can continue to move forward on the road of table tennis and climb to a more brilliant peak.
With Tommy's strong backing, Ni Xialian's table tennis career in Luxembourg has bloomed with a new brilliance. With every swing, she showed lightning-fast serve speed and superb mastery. She is athletic and responsive, and at the same time has great wisdom and strategic vision, and she is sure to command and win on the battlefield.
Outside of the arena, Ni Xialian is often eagerly anticipated by the Luxembourg people and hailed as the glory of the country. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the veteran table tennis player who is over half a hundred years old even served as the flag bearer of the Luxembourg delegation, winning the highest honor for the motherland. On the field, her fighting spirit shone brightly and exuded dazzling light.
After four Olympic Games, she has always been there, vividly showing her unswerving pursuit of sports in front of audiences around the world. However, who would have expected that when the 2022 Championship was held in Chengdu, China, Ni Xialian, who had reached the age of 60, would once again break the record, creating a shocking historical moment!
After the game, the audience stood up and cheered warmly to call Ni Xialian the "Queen of Table Tennis". Her performance was truly jaw-dropping – her lightning-fast serve and her well-thought-out tactical set-up put her opponent in a difficult position. This woman of not great stature did not rely on a strong physique, but on a firm will and keen insight.
Time flies, and now Ni Xialian has entered the age of sixties, but her heroic appearance on the table tennis court has never faded. Even in her sixties, she still broke records many times and became a legend in the world of professional table tennis. On the field, her style of play is sharp and decisive, and she never speaks of defeat lightly. Every serve, every swing of the racket, reveals her deep love and dedication to the sport. She is highly skilled and well-planned, and her opponents often struggle with her unpredictable tactical offensives.
Outside the arena, Ni Xialian's dedication to sports and perseverance are worthy of learning and respect from our younger generation. She has never been limited by her innate height and size, but has finally climbed to the top of her life with her tenacity.
In addition to her brilliant personal achievements, the sincere love story between Ni Xialian and her husband Tommy is also enviable. They are like a pair of warriors fighting side by side, supporting each other on the battlefield of table tennis and moving forward together. It is Tommy's love and support that has become a source of motivation for her to move forward and keep going.
Today's Ni Xialian has become a table tennis legend admired by the younger generations, composing a gorgeous movement with her own life, and will always be remembered and revered by the table tennis world.