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Text | Use and entertainment
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Born in Shanghai, China, Ni Xialian has shown remarkable talent for table tennis since she was a child. At the age of 13, she entered the Shanghai Youth Sports School and began a long and arduous training career.
With her extraordinary talent and tenacious perseverance, she quickly stood out, winning the title of world champion at the age of 20, becoming the leader of the new generation of Chinese table tennis after Zong Guoyan.
Just when everyone expected Ni Xialian to climb further to the peak of table tennis and continue her brilliant record, she unexpectedly chose to retire at the peak of her athletic career.
A way to make a living in a foreign land
It wasn't until a few years later that Ni Xialian reappeared in table tennis, only this time, her stage had shifted from her home country to mainland Europe.
After playing in the professional league in Belgium for several years, she was invited by Connelly, president of the Luxembourg Table Tennis Association, to coach and compete in Luxembourg. Having just set foot in this small and unfamiliar country, Ni Xialian faced many challenges.
As a native Shanghai girl, she not only needs to adapt to a completely different living environment, but also needs to overcome language barriers. The most difficult thing is that the level of table tennis in Luxembourg is so low that it can only be regarded as a small country in Europe.
It also seems difficult for her to reach new heights in her career while coaching and competing there. However, Ni Xialian was not defeated by these challenges. She quickly threw herself into teaching and training at the club with full enthusiasm.
With her superb skills and scientific guidance, she was not only loved by the players, but also won many awards on the field, and soon won the recognition and popularity of the whole Luxembourg.
With the passage of time, Ni Xialian gradually took root in this small country. Although the Luxembourg athlete had the opportunity to participate in the Atlanta Olympics, as a Chinese, she did not qualify.
Olympic battlefields
Until the Olympics, Ni accepted the invitation to represent Luxembourg. Although she missed the championship in the end, her good result in the women's singles round of 16 still made Lu Guo excited.
One of the thrilling five-set battles made the audience crazy, and some fans said with tears in their eyes after the game, "Teacher Ni used her hard work to once again establish the image of Luxembourg table tennis!"
Since then, Ni has played for the Luxembourg team and has won the European Championship title for the small nation six times. At an advanced age, she has beaten famous players at the International Open. At the Rio Olympics, she also served as the flag bearer for the Luxembourg delegation.
When everyone thought that Ni Xialian had enjoyed the "ball king" treatment in Luxembourg, a heartwarming news spread throughout the continent: it turned out that the table tennis queen had another low-key and happy married life in her sports career for many years.
Find a new home and meet true love under the turnaround
Ni Xialian's first husband, Lin Hongwei, moved to Luxembourg with her and became her most solid support in a foreign country. However, due to the difference in the concept of life between the two, the marriage only lasted a few years before coming to an end.
After the divorce, Ni Xialian raised her son alone, and still devoted herself to table tennis. At this time, a coach came into her life, and he was Tommy, who was also a good table tennis player back then.
Soon after they met, Tommy was attracted by Ni Xialian's love for table tennis, and the two gradually sparked a spark of love. A few years later, the two finally tied the knot, and soon after their marriage, they gave birth to a cute little princess, opening a new chapter in her life.
Since then, Tommy has become Ni Xialian's biggest supporter. Whenever he goes out to compete, he always organizes training and teaches skills to his wife, and he is the most active cheering cheer on the sidelines.
The two support each other, love each other, and write a brilliant chapter about family, friendship and career with their actions. With Tommy's full care, Ni Xialian and her small family gradually settled in Luxembourg.
Her son practiced with her when he was a child, and later became a professional athlete; After the birth of her daughter, Tommy personally praised her as a baby fan, and the whole family always went to watch the game in full gear.
The warm scene of a happy family is the envy of the Luxembourg people. Some media even affectionately call Ni Xialian "Grandma Cola", just because although she is over the age of six, she is still full of vitality and has a long table tennis career when she is with her family.
Cherished bonds of affection
A happy married life and a fulfilling family life allowed Ni Xialian to regain a sense of belonging in a wandering foreign land. The birth of her daughter was undoubtedly the biggest motivation for her to put down roots in Luxembourg, because it was only then that she truly had her own home.
's daughter has been Ni Xialian's pearl since she was a child. Whether she is in the arena or surrounded by the crowd, as long as her daughter is by her side, the table tennis queen always looks calm and smiles calmly.
After the game, she would look at her daughter with the most affectionate eyes, as if she was soothing the little angel with her gaze. In contrast, Ni Xialian is much stricter with her son. Since she was a child, she has asked her son to follow the family motto and love table tennis.
Luckily, her son had the same talent as she did, and soon became a professional athlete. Whenever she sees her son defeating an opponent in the arena, Ni Xialian always nods with satisfaction, as if she saw her own shadow back then.
Whether it is for her son or daughter, Ni Xialian has given a lot of love. She once said: "I have spent many years of my youth chasing my table tennis dream, and now I have gained a happy family." Since God has given me this gift, I will cherish and repay it with a hundredfold energy. "
She interpreted these words with her actions. Whenever Tommy and the children came to watch the game, Ni Xialian would go all out and do her best, as if she wanted to please them with the most dazzling performance.
When she was on the court, she would even kiss her daughter's cheek in front of the table as a prayer for heaven's favor. The arrival of her daughter is undoubtedly the biggest surprise in Ni Xialian's life.
For an athlete who has been on the court for half her life, her daughter is her softest heart. Ni Xialian never spared in her love for her daughter, and gave every bit of warmth to the youngest angel in the family without reservation.
Even at an advanced age, she will still be coquettish and cute like a child, showing the indissoluble kindness in her arms.
Nationally recognized
During her time in Luxembourg, Ni not only contributed 6 European championships to the small country, but was also received by the royal couple of Luxembourg many times.
At an advanced age, she won a medal at the World Table Tennis Championships, which not only created a personal best record, but also made the whole Luxembourg excited, because she once again demonstrated the image and status of this small country in the table tennis world with her tenacious struggle and outstanding performance.
As a reward for her contribution, the Luxembourg government paid special attention to and valued Ni Xialian's participation during the Olympic Games. Although she regretted it in the end, in the company of coach Tommy and her daughter, Ni Xialian still smiled calmly.
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