Sun Yingsha is set to make a formidable run at the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, participating in three table tennis events: women's singles, women's team, and mixed doubles.
At just 23 years old, Sun has already amassed significant accolades, including victories at the World Championships and the World Cup. Her first Olympic appearance in Tokyo 2021 saw her contribute to China's gold medal in the women's team event and secure a silver in the women's singles.
Despite China's strong performance in Tokyo, winning four out of five table tennis golds, the mixed doubles event saw an early setback when Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen were defeated by Japan's Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito in the finals. This loss was a moment of frustration for the Chinese national team. However, Sun's impressive victory over Ito in the women's singles semifinals reignited the team's confidence.
Reflecting on her experiences, Sun shared with China Media Group (CMG), \"The last Olympics was unknown to me on a lot of fronts including preparation and match-playing. I felt like I was still exploring it at that time. Now I believe I have improved step by step, not just physically, but also mentally.\"
For the mixed doubles event in Paris, China has paired Sun with Wang Chuqin, a duo that has clinched the title in the last two World Championships. Their partnership will face intense scrutiny as they uphold their legacy against formidable international contenders. With only one pair representing China in the mixed doubles, the competition is fierce, with at least five of the 16 pairs vying for gold.
Sun remains confident in her abilities, attributing her success to rapid growth since her international debut in 2017 and her unwavering dedication to training. \"As I grow older, I have become more mature and made more progress,\" Sun stated. \"I have a lot of role models to learn from. I'm not saying that I want to copy anyone or become the next someone because everyone is unique. … But when people mention my name in the future, I want their impression of me to be unique too.\"
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Sun Yingsha wants to win everything in table tennis in Paris
cgtn.com
