One year on, the Tokyo Olympics are finally taking place, albeit without a national or international audience. (third in a series of twelve).

Our 12-strong Team Lëtzebuerg has athletes competing in athletics, cycling, swimming, equestrianism, table tennis, triathlon and archery.

FYI: The so-called “cadre élite” comprises those athletes who have both participated in a certain number of high-level competitions and either achieved, or been close to achieving, the specific standard set to enter the “high performance” category of their sport (distinguished from “mass sport” or “recreational sport”).

The “cadre promotion” includes athletes who have not yet made the “elite” category but have a realistic chance of doing so within the first 6 years upon admission. This is not achieved by meeting specific criteria, but by their general performance as well as participation in high performance international competitions (within respective age categories and 5th and 6th years of performance).

TABLE TENNIS

Ni Xia Lian, on the other hand, is practically Tokyo Olympics veteran. Joining the tournament for the fifth time, Xia Lian first joined the elite category in 1998-2003 before re-joining in 2008.

“I’m very proud,” says Ni, “I don’t think every 58-year-old can say they qualified for the Olympic Games. I think it’s a big challenge for every player because everybody is so eager to reach them. You have to fight for years to reach this goal, I’m happy I have. I have a lot of preparations and a lot of mental preparations.”

“I have my 95-year-old mum living with me, my two children and my lovely husband who is always there for me and a big support. When everyone in the family is healthy, that’s the best preparation for me.”

“They all support me and give me so much motivation, it keeps me going on. Without this, I would not be here. Age is just a number. If I can win the game, if the team needs me, I’m always willing to be there and to do my best.”

Currently ranking #42, Ni made it down to the last 16 in 2000 and in 2019, won Bronze in the European Championships in Minsk. Ni also takes a pragmatically optimistic view of sport: “We have a good future ahead of us. In sports, if you’re good, you have enough chances to prove yourself.”

She won team and mixed doubles gold medals in the 1983 World Table Tennis Championships.