Zeng Zhiying, born in China, retired from professional play in 1986, but at the age of 58, she is representing Chile in the women’s singles table tennis competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

This is a turning point that even Zeng Zhiying couldn’t have imagined, as she had quit professional table tennis in 1986 when she was just 20 years old. Three years later, Zeng ventured alone to Chile, where she got married, had children, and now owns a furniture company at her home in Iquique, northern Chile.

This unexpected journey began, rather incredibly, due to Covid-19, which led to strict lockdowns, forcing everyone to stay home. To keep herself occupied, Zeng bought a table tennis set and played alone for hours every day. After the lockdown was lifted, she entered a local tournament for fun and easily won. By 2023, Zeng had become Chile’s number one female table tennis player and qualified for the national team.

Zeng Zhiying celebrates winning at the 2023 Pan American Games. Image: World Table Tennis

Zeng’s journey to secure a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics began after she won the Sudamericanos 2023 and then took bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games. Ultimately, she qualified to represent Chile in the women’s singles table tennis event at the 2024 Olympics, ranking in the top 150 in the world.

“No one can believe it,” Zeng jokingly told The Guardian. “What are we going to do with an old lady?”

Zeng was born in 1966 in Guangzhou, China, and just turned 58 on July 17. Her father was an engineer, and her mother was a table tennis coach. As Zeng grew up, table tennis gained popularity, especially after the “ping-pong diplomacy” of 1971, when the U.S. team became the first American group to visit Beijing since 1949. Zeng recalled seeing table tennis tables everywhere during her childhood. “Table tennis for Chinese people is like soccer for Brazil,” she said.

With her mother’s coaching, Zeng was admitted to an elite youth team at a military sports school in Beijing by the age of 11. In 1981, when the school disbanded, Zeng continued to be trained by her mother to earn a spot on the national team. “Competing in the Olympics is every athlete’s dream,” she reminded herself at the time.

However, Zeng’s dream was negatively affected by the introduction of the “two-color rule” in 1986. This rule required players to use rackets with two different colors, allowing opponents to identify which surface was used to predict the ball’s speed and spin. Zeng had only trained with a single-color racket since childhood. “That rule killed my game,” she said. “I felt weak, both mentally and technically.”

Leaving the national team became inevitable. An opportunity arose when a Chinese coach invited Zeng to Chile in 1989 to teach table tennis to children in this South American country. The unfamiliar land didn’t frighten her; instead, it excited Zeng at the thought of becoming a coach.

Zeng Zhiying returned to professional play in 2022 after a 36-year hiatus. Image: AP

In Chile, Zeng quickly integrated into the Chinese community. From a table tennis coach, she shifted her career path to trading Chinese goods, as the import business was booming. Chileans found the letter “z” challenging, making Zhiying Zeng difficult to pronounce. Like many other Chinese immigrants, she chose a Chilean name, “Tania.”

In 2002, Zeng picked up a racket again, but this time to help her son quit gaming and encourage more physical activity. She took him to a local club, but she ended up making a name for herself by defeating all opponents there. This success helped her son quit gaming, turning to a passion for table tennis and confidently facing challenges.

However, Zeng never considered returning to professional competition. She focused on her business for nearly 20 years. Then, the pandemic took many things away but brought a talent back to her rightful place.

Coach Juan Lizama noted Zeng’s Olympic potential when he first saw her play in 1990. “She is simply extraordinary,” he said. “Zeng easily defeats every famous South American player.”

Zeng’s playing style leans towards defense, with all the skills needed to counter attacks. Lizama affirmed that she performs best under pressure and always scores points during tough moments. He described Zeng as a “global example” of the extraordinary. A person who left the sport for 20 years but could still win major American tournaments and earn a spot in the Olympics.

When Chile hosted the 2023 Pan American Games, Zeng was the oldest athlete in the competition and was seen as a national hero when she won a bronze medal in the women’s team event. Fans affectionately call her “Aunt Tania” or the “Table Tennis Granny,” and her Instagram account gained over 10,000 followers in just a week.

Her fame stems from her uniqueness, not just her age but also her immigrant background. However, she insists she has never faced discrimination, even though there have been bitter moments. In February 2024, Zeng was Chile’s number-one table tennis player but was not included in the team for the world championships in South Korea. She was initially confused but took it as motivation to keep moving forward.

This belief brought Zeng to the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she is becoming an inspirational figure. She concluded, “At my age, you have to play sports for joy, not for suffering. I didn’t achieve my dream in China, but I did in Chile. The important thing is never to give up.”

To prepare for the Olympics, Zeng trains from Monday to Friday, three hours a day. She wants to work even harder, but at 58, she has to consider her limits. If she were younger, the training wouldn’t be painful. “Now, my shoulders hurt if I play too much,” Zeng said with a smile.