The 61-year-old Ni Xialian cried, after losing to Misei Ito.
On the evening of the 1st, in the 2024 World Table Tennis Professional League (WTT) China Grand Slam Women's Singles Competition, Ni Xialian, who represented Luxembourg, played against Japan's Misei Ito, and the audience cheered for Grandma Ni, which made the old man very moved.
Ni Xialian greeted the audience. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu
"Thank you so much, that's what it feels like to be home. Grandma Ni also wanted to win, but unfortunately Grandma didn't have this ability, which disappointed everyone. Ni Xialian's eyes were red, and tears flowed down the corners of her eyes.
In this game, although she lost 0:3 and missed the round of 16, Ni Xialian lost decently. She actively ran on both sides of the table and tried her best to mobilize Ito, but in the end, due to the shortcomings of the long rubber play, she was always passive.
"I can't play, I can't attack, I can't defend, you teach me what to do?" Grandma Ni looked at the reporter with helplessness in her eyes, more helplessness.
"Ito is my nemesis in terms of play, because I don't have speed, so the landing and spin don't work for her, she suppresses all my changes with her fast attack, and I can only rise to the challenge." Grandma Ni knows her weakness, "There is a big gap between me and Ito, and I deserve to lose." It's just that I think I should try to win one more point! ”
Misei Ito gave a thumbs up. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu
Grandma Ni's words were "heart-piercing", but they were also frank. On the field, in order to win one more point, she tried her best. In the middle of the second game, Grandma Ni unexpectedly hit a straight forehand, and Ito Misei didn't have time to react, watching the ball whizz by, and the audience applauded. This point also gave Grandma Ni a thumbs up for herself.
"I think I'm playing well, but that's the way it is in competitive sports, you have to rely on your strength. I always say that enthusiasm can't achieve wishes, but this is the charm of sports, we have to meet challenges one by one, overcome difficulties one by one, and I hope that children can learn something from me. ”
At the mention of fans, Grandma Ni would shed tears, she said that there was a little fan, in order to wait for her to sign an autograph, her hands were red from the cold, which made her feel distressed. "I'm really touched by how well people are to me. I was just an ordinary player who was trained by my home country and benefited from table tennis. To be able to return to Beijing to play this time is also to give you a wonderful game, which is my greatest wish. ”
Ni Xialian serves in the match. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu
Ni Xialian said that she has not been back to Beijing since the 2008 Olympic Games, and she is very shocked to see the changes in Shougang Park in the past few days.
"Such a large industrial area can be transformed so beautifully, the stadium street and the surrounding environment are very beautiful. As an overseas traveler, I am really proud and proud of the strength of the motherland, and I want to thank my compatriots for building the country so well......" Grandma Ni choked up, and her eyes turned red again.
At the end of the interview, the eyes of every reporter at the scene were wet.
"Can we see you at the Los Angeles Olympics?" The reporter asked.
"Four years is another challenge, and everything goes naturally." Grandma Ni said.
Source: Xinhua News Agency, Yue Ranran, Li Chunyu