Ni Xialian: An inspiration for all generations

Ni Xialian has seen and experienced it all. 

The 59-year-old has been playing table tennis for over 50 years, including nearly 40 at the very top level. She made her World Table Tennis Championships debut in 1983, and has gone on to play in 23 editions of the World Championships.

The five-time Olympian for Luxembourg, who won two world titles as part of the Chinese team back in 1983, is a bona fide legend of her sport and has won many plaudits her ability to challenge at the top level after so many years. Just last year, together with Sarah de Nutte, Ni won a bronze medal in women's doubles – her first World Championships medal since a 1985 silver for China.

However, Ni – who has become somewhat of a fan favourite – remains modest and aware of the limitations on her body. Speaking to Olympics.com through the ITTF at the recent World Championships, the Shanghai-born Ni – who moved to Luxembourg in 1991 – acknowledges that many factors have come together to allow her to stay at the top.

"There are a lot of people who've helped me behind the scenes," she says. "After playing for 50 years I'm very lucky to be able to still play on the court so freely, and I'm also very grateful.

"My family, our table tennis association and everyone in Luxembourg is very supportive of me. I also have so many fans all over the world, and I'm particularly moved by the encouragement of Chinese fans even though I'm already in Luxembourg. It's a great motivation for me and the best way to repay that is to play my best."

Ni Xialian on finding a balance

Unlike many of the world's top table tennis players, Ni is not a full-time paddler. Back in Luxembourg, she cannot – and does not – devote every single day to her craft, which makes her continued success all the more impressive.

"Due to age, I can't practise like when I was young. For me, the main thing is not getting hurt or falling sick," she explains. "How I rest my body correctly is also very important. I've been to the gym quite a bit to maintain my physical strength, and I also see a physiotherapist to help me recover."

Back in 2019, Ni told the Olympic Channel about her family – her then-27- and 16-year-old children and 88-year-old mother, who were all living with her and her husband, coach Tommy Danielsson.

Family, which she readily credits for their continued support, comes before her sport.

"I don't have much time to play table tennis, because I still have a family and I have a lot of responsibilities. Even though I don't practise much, being able to balance and arrange everything plays a great role in keeping my table tennis in shape and maintaining my performance."

Ni Xialian and her motivational motto

Currently ranked doubles world number three alongside De Nutte, Ni shows no signs of stopping – and as she gets older, she seems to be improving. That, according to her, is down to her mantra: the Chinese idiom 活到老学到老, which has the literal meaning 'live to old age, learn till old age' and is usually translated 'you're never too old to learn'.

"It is something I have always thought about and put into practice," Ni shares. "There are other sayings too. 'I will always be younger today than I am tomorrow' is also a phrase that motivates me."

Ni says that as she gets older, she has considered calling it quits, especially after she suffered a defeat. "Recently I thought that I was too old to play," she explains. "Looking back on games I felt I lost them because I could no longer play well and I was giving up on court unwittingly by slowing down.

"But after that I stopped to think, 'No, that's not right, you're being silly.' I concluded that I'm always younger today than I will be tomorrow, so this encourages me a lot."

At the recent World Championships, Ni famously beat singles world number 16 Jeon Ji-hee of South Korea en route to leading the Luxembourg team to a famous 3–1 victory over their more established counterparts.

"When I'm off the field, we can consider my age; on the field, I don't think that much about it, I'm just wholeheartedly trying to win every point," Ni insists. "My skills and my experience have been put to good use, and I think this is also a very lucky thing, because everyone wants to be the best, and many times they don't succeed, but this time I'm successful.

"I've worked very hard to keep pace with the times to improve my technique, and I have achieved some results," adds the penhold grip specialist.

Ni Xialian still inspiring others at 59

The Luxembourger is aware of her role in the sport as perhaps the oldest player still active on the World Table Tennis circuit.

With that, and her continuing success, she inspires players of all ages around the world – including nearly everyone currently on tour who were not even born when Ni won women's team and women's doubles gold at the 1983 World Championships in Tokyo, some five years before the sport even made its first Olympic Games appearance.

Likewise, Ni's Instagram profile often attracts fans commenting in multiple languages, with many Chinese fans using the respectful greeting "Aunt Ni" to refer to her.

"I'm very lucky to play table tennis, whether it's on behalf of people who play or people who don't play; young or old; Chinese fans or global fans. That they can gain positive energy or a kind of motivation from me is very touching; I'm very grateful," she says.

"I don't think I have the ability to do that many things, but the spirit of hard work or effort makes people see what I do. Our whole world is a community. As long as we can show our sportsmanship to the fullest, with an upward (positive) spirit, I think it's touches many people.

"Sport's spirit of hard work is endless. That's where my effort comes from."