Zhiying Zeng's Olympic dream began in the 1970s, when she was playing in China's professional table tennis youth team. But it won't be until May 2024 that the 58-year-old woman will complete her goal when she wins a ticket to Paris this summer.
This is a story that even Zhiying Zeng could not predict. Because this female table tennis player retired from professional competition in 1986, when she was only 20 years old. After that, she went abroad to live, start a business and own a furniture company in Iquique, northern Chile.
The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic has paved the way for Ms. Zhiying Zeng to return to table tennis. During Chile's blockade, she bought table tennis balls to take home to play every day.
When life returned to normal, the former athlete participated in local tournaments, winning many times to become the highest ranked person in the country. In 2023, she is eligible to join the Chilean national team.
Zhiying Zeng won the highest ranking at Sudamericanos 2023 and the bronze medal at the 2023 Pan American Games. In the women's singles event, this athlete is qualified to represent Chile at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Zhiying Zeng has been fascinated with table tennis since she was a child. Her mother is a table tennis coach in Guangzhou (China). At that time, this sport became popular and loved by Chinese people. After a long period of training, Zhiying Zeng was selected for the national team in 1983.
In 1986, the female athlete's dream was extinguished when the rules of table tennis were changed. Psychological and technical pressures caused Zhiying Zeng to leave the national team.
Just three years later, she moved to Chile with an invitation to coach students. Here, Zhiying Zeng started a business selling Chinese goods.
The 58-year-old athlete never thought about trying out for the Chilean national team. She wanted to focus on business, until the COVID-19 pandemic brought this woman back to table tennis.
At the Pan American Games in 2023, Zhiying Zeng - the oldest athlete - has become a "phenomenon". After just a week, she attracted more than 10,000 followers on Instagram. Fans and fans in Chile call Zhiying Zeng "the old lady of table tennis".
At the age of 58, Zhiying Zeng arrived at the 2024 Paris Olympics with endless happiness. She affirmed: “I am proud to represent Chile. I love this country. I didn't achieve my dream in China but I did in Chile. The important thing is not to give up."
