Sun Yingsha, the 23-year-old table tennis prodigy, is setting her sights on a historic achievement at the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. She plans to compete in three events: women’s singles, women’s team, and mixed doubles, aiming to secure gold medals in all.
Having already clinched titles at the World Championships and the World Cup, Sun is rapidly closing in on every major honor in the sport. At her Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021, she played a pivotal role in securing the women’s team gold for China and earned a silver medal in the women’s singles.
China’s table tennis team faced an unexpected setback in Tokyo when Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen were defeated by Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito in the mixed doubles final. This loss was a blow to the team’s morale, but Sun’s decisive victory over Ito in the women’s singles semifinals reignited their confidence.
“The last Olympics was a journey of exploration for me,” Sun shared with China Media Group (CMG). “I was unfamiliar with many aspects, from preparation to playing matches. Now, I feel I’ve grown step by step, not just in skills but also mentally.”
To bolster their chances in the mixed doubles in Paris, China has paired Sun with Wang Chuqin. The duo has already demonstrated their prowess by winning the last two World Championships. However, with at least five of the 16 competing pairs being strong contenders for gold, the competition will be fierce.
Despite the challenges ahead, Sun remains resolute. “As I grow older, I have become more mature and made more progress,” she said. “I have many role models to learn from. I’m not trying to copy anyone because everyone is unique. When people mention my name in the future, I want them to think of someone unique too.”
Sun’s dedication to continuous improvement and her aspiration to leave a distinctive mark on the sport underscore her commitment to excellence. As the Paris Games approach, fans around the world will be watching closely to see if she can achieve her ambitious goal of winning triple gold.
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Sun Yingsha wants to win everything in table tennis in Paris
cgtn.com
