NI Xia Lian a three-time European Champion in Singles two-time World Champion in Team’s and mixed doubles is celebrating her 60th birthday today. Despite reaching this milestone age she remains active and fiercely competitive. Just a few days before her birthday NI competed in the Singles and Team’s events at the European Games.
Four years earlier at the same competition NI won bronze and qualified for Olympics.
NI initially achieved team and mixed doubles gold medals for China in the 1983 World Championships before moving to Germany in 1989. Two years later she settled in Luxembourg.
Furthermore NI was a member of the Luxembourg Olympic team in Beijing 2008 London 2012 and Rio 2016. During the closing ceremony in Brazil Ni had the honor of being the flag bearer for Luxembourg.
Four years later at the age of 58 NI qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics becoming the oldest table tennis player to participate in the Games.
In 2021 at 58 years old NI achieved another milestone by winning the bronze medal in women’s doubles at the 2021 World Championships partnering with Sarah de NUTTE.
In 2016 Xialian received a Badge of Honour for her outstanding contribution to the work of the European Table Tennis Union.
1983 World Champion in team and mixed doubles
1998 European Championships winner in singles
2002 European Championships winner in singles and mixed doubles
Europe Top 12 winner in 1996 1997 and 1998
Europe Cup of Champions winner in 2002
Champions League winner in 2008 and 2010
2000 European Championships silver medal in doubles alongside Peggy REGENWETTER
2018 European Championships bronze medal in doubles alongside Sarah de NUTTE
2021 World Championships bronze medal in doubles again alongside Sarah de NUTTE
