The last ball, the audience stood up and applauded Ni Xialian, 61 years old. The husband held her face and kissed her gently.
"He always takes advantage of me and kisses me secretly." Ni Xialian said shyly.
This is Ni Xialian's sixth Olympic Games. Although she missed the top 16, she has no regrets because she lost to the 23-year-old Sun Yingsha . "The number one player in the world has to give in. If you have never played against Sasha, you will never know how good her game is." Ni Xialian said.
At the Paris Olympics, Ni Xialian represented Luxembourg for the sixth time, becoming the oldest player in the history of Olympic table tennis.
On July 27, in the first round of women's singles, Ni Xialian defeated a Turkish player and got off to a good start. In this game, Aunt Ni hit many high-angle shots, even causing her opponent to twist her waist. After winning the ball, she jumped high and greeted the audience with a smile.
html is 61 years old and still one of the top 32 players in the world.In an interview after the game, Aunt Ni looked relaxed: "I have completed the task! I am very happy to play against Sun Yingsha in the next round. This is a rare opportunity for me to learn from her. I strive to win every more point."
7 On March 31, Ni Xialian (right) was in the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhu Zheng
The veteran keeps his word.
Against Sun Yingsha on July 31, Ni Xialian performed well in the third game. Although she lost at 11:13, she once caught up to 11:11.
"Aunt Ni's sportsmanship is worth learning from. You see, no matter how far behind she is, she keeps fighting and thinking of ways on the court." Sun Yingsha said.
"It's a pity that I didn't win. Oh, what a rare opportunity." Ni Xialian sighed, full of regret.
Although the game was one-sided, Ni Xialian's relaxation and happiness on the court infected everyone. Whenever she hits a good ball, she will stand on tiptoes and spin in circles; whenever Shasha hits a good ball, she will nod and smile; she even turns 360 degrees to catch a ball, attracting applause from the audience.
"Aunt Ni and I both enjoyed this game very much. Her experience, field transitions, adaptability, etc. are among the best in the world." Sun Yingsha said.
0:4 lost the game, Ni Xialian lamented that "his playing style is outdated." "Today I really opened my eyes and learned what it means to be No. 1 in the world. Many of my balls can be scored on other venues, but here in Sasha, it's just scratching and drizzle. I just can't reach the ball when it comes. Ni Xialian said with a smile.
Aunt Ni is not exaggerating. Her straight long rubber poses no threat to Sun Yingsha. Sasha mobilized and suppressed Aunt Ni's backhand through wide angles, making her either unable to catch it or blocking it out of bounds. "I am the only one who plays straight. I have been walking on thin ice. Although my playing style is lagging behind, I can still improve technically." Ni Xialian refused to accept the old age.
"Aunt Ni is still competing. She is a good inspiration for young athletes. I have always regarded her as a role model." Sun Yingsha said.
At the end of the game, the lights of Hall 4 of the South Paris Arena outlined a circle of gold around Aunt Ni. Will this be her last Olympics? "Don't dare think about this problem, just work hard for the next one." Aunt Ni said.
(Xinhua News Agency)
