Transatlanticism

So happy for Isabelle Li and Pang Xue Jie who won the women singles silver and men doubles gold in table tennis at the SEA Games 2011.

Both of them are homegrown players. Glad that STTA did not include just the China-born players in squad. I am a fan of foreign talents but we should always create a leeway for our local talents to achieve their dreams.

Because of our systems, its impossible to have the luxury of hours dedicated to trainings. There is a school to juggle along with always. For Isabelle and Xue Jie, this is simply a great feat in comparison with Feng Tianwei, Sun Beibei who are professionals and trains for much more hours.

Seen people dreams of playing in the team being suffocated because there were just too many players coming from China to boost our level. My friend from China once told me, “In China, 9 out of 10 people you seen in streets play tabletennis. Probably there is even someone on the streets that can even beat the world number 1 Wang Liqin. Just that they did not pursue this sports career professionally’. That’s the depth from such a big country like China.

Pretty encouraged at how i could still find my name on the teamsheet almost every game despite having 3 China players occupying the 7 slots in the starting team. Did have a bit of skills back then and won a few. But more than ten years of sacrifice, hardwork and training. 

A top local athelete once said, ‘I love my sports. But its a commitment to wake up at 7am everyday and appear at the training shortly afterwards’. 

I am pretty convinced, talent alone cant take you to the top. Hardwork is necessary.