At just 13 years old, Yin Ziyuan is making waves in the squash world. As the youngest member of China’s delegation at the 2025 Chengdu World Games, she’s already set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will debut.
Yin picked up her first racket at age eight, training nearly every day at her parents’ squash club in east China’s Shanghai Municipality. With foreign coaches on hand, she sharpened her skills over five years of dedicated practice.
Last month, she clinched the Under-13 girls’ title at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in South Korea—a milestone that marks a breakthrough for Chinese squash on the junior stage.
In her debut at the Chengdu World Games, Yin faced Japan’s No. 1 seed, Watanabe Satomi. Though she fell 3-11, 4-11, 3-11, her confidence remained unshaken. "My goal is to represent China in LA," Yin told CGTN Sports Scene’s Mike Fox. "I’ll keep pushing every day."
Islam Hany, coach of the Chinese national squash team, praised the investment in young talent. "China is committed to scouting and nurturing players like Yin," he said. "With this support, our athletes are poised for success on the world stage, including the Olympics."
From local club courts to international arenas, Yin’s journey highlights the rise of squash in the Chinese mainland. As she prepares for the road to LA, the world is watching this young athlete chase her Olympic dream.
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13-year-old Yin Ziyuan wants to play squash at 2028 Olympic Games
cgtn.com
