Ding Ning, this name is like a lightning bolt in the table tennis world, illuminating the entire sports world. In September 2021, at the age of 31, she decided to go public, but not to retire, but to further her education. The class at Peking University will witness the beginning of a new chapter in her life. And in a corner, there is a wish that has been quietly put on hold - Ding Ning's mother, hoping that her daughter can find a good home.
When it comes to Ding Ning, countless table tennis fans can't help but nod their heads in praise. Her story isn't just about rackets and table tennis, it's about a girl, a family, and a legend that spans countless arenas. The beginning of this story can be traced back to Daqing City in 1997, when Ding Ning was only 5 years old and was discovered by senior coach Tang Jingbo in the Children's Palace and began her table tennis journey.
Gao Fengmei, Ding Ning's mother, was originally a basketball player, but she has her own views on her daughter's career choice. At first, she just wanted Ding Ning to improve her physical fitness through table tennis training, but she didn't expect her daughter to be so obsessed with this sport. After realizing her daughter's love, Gao Fengmei was determined to support Ding Ning so that she could go further on the road of table tennis.
Ding Ning's table tennis road is out of control, and every leap forward is accompanied by her mother's support. In 2005, she was selected for the national team and quickly made a name for herself in the table tennis world. Four years later, in the 2009 "Straight to Yokohama" selection tournament, Ding Ning defeated the "Table Tennis Devil" Zhang Yining, got the qualification to participate in the World Table Tennis Championships, and won the championship in the competition, announcing the rise of a new star.
In 2011, Ding Ning achieved consecutive good results in domestic competitions, not only defending the world championship, but also reaching the world No. 1 for the first time in November, setting a new points record. The following London 2012 Olympic Games, although she lost to teammate Li Xiaoxia in the final and only won a silver medal, it also laid the foundation for her to complete the Grand Slam at Rio 2016.
Ding Ning in 2014 was already a master in the table tennis world. Asian Cup, World Cup, this year is almost a victory for her. Especially in the World Cup, she dominated the crowd and reached the top of the world. The gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics was the pinnacle of her career, and she became a bright star in table tennis, with the title of "Grand Slam" player.
Behind such brilliance, Ding Ning's personal life is relatively low-key. On the road of table tennis, she has dedicated almost all her youth and time, so far, Ding Ning's love life seems to be a blank piece of paper.
Maybe it's because of the high intensity of training and competitions, or maybe it's because she's determined to move towards a higher goal, love has never been the first thing for her. Gao Fengmei has a slightly different view on this. In her eyes, her daughter's happy married life is just as important, sometimes even more than sports.
The farewell statement in September 2021 not only announced the suspension of Ding Ning's career, but also made the outside world full of curiosity about her future life. Ding Ning chose to continue her studies and go to Peking University, a decision that made people see her plans and expectations for the future. In other words, she is transforming from a world-class athlete to a scholar, and the transformation is undoubtedly admirable.
At this turning point, Ding Ning thanked all the fans, coaches and teammates who supported her. This farewell does not mean that she is completely cut off from table tennis, but a new beginning, and a more colorful chapter of life is unfolding. The little wish in Gao Fengmei's heart - hoping that her daughter can marry a good family - has also resurfaced in the public eye.
may be out of concern for her daughter's future, or it may be an insistence on the traditional concept of happiness, Gao Fengmei has always maintained a high degree of concern about Ding Ning's marriage issues. In her opinion, Ding Ning's life should not only be table tennis, but also the laughter of family and children. Although Ding Ning herself did not express much about this, Gao Fengmei's wish became one of the focuses of attention after she retired.
From childhood to adulthood, Ding Ning's life almost revolves around table tennis. Training, competitions, championships, honors, these may be her daily routines, but there are many different ways of life in the world outside of her. Now, Ding Ning has chosen to study and choose a new way of life, which has made many people cheer for her and make many people look forward to her new life.
Ding Ning's achievements in table tennis need not be said, her name has been engraved in the history of sports. But now, everyone is more concerned about what kind of life trajectory she will have after leaving the arena. Will she find a good family and start a new stage of life, as her mother wants? Will she continue to create brilliance in another way, in another field?
Such a transition is not easy for anyone. After changing the environment and lifestyle, Ding Ning needs to adapt not only to the pressure of studying, but also to the changes in life.