As the oldest player in the Chinese women’s national table tennis team, Chen Meng has set her sights on a lofty goal for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris: to defeat her own previous accomplishments.
The 30-year-old reigning singles and team champion from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 was recently announced as a member of the Chinese national team for the Paris Games, just three days after her victory in the Saudi Smash 2024 women’s singles final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in May.
In the lead-up to her triumph in Jeddah, Chen had to overcome a formidable lineup of Japanese players, including Miu Hirano, Hita Hayata and Miwa Harimoto, all of whom are likely to be tough opponents for China in Paris.
“The three Japanese players I played in Saudi, they all have their own characteristics in their style of playing,” Chen told China Media Group (CMG). “They all have good skills, play with aggression and pose serious threats. But by analyzing their game, I was able to play with a clear head.”
With a perfect Olympic performance in Tokyo under her belt, Chen Meng is now more experienced in preparing herself for the challenges of the Paris Games. She has been diligently working on improving her skills and enhancing her endurance, recognizing that her age has brought about changes in her recovery process.
“Several years ago, I never prioritized improving any part of my game,” Chen said. “I just kept tried to do everything better. But now I am in a bigger need for better endurance. I have aged and found that I recover slower than before. I have realized that better endurance will keep me in a better form.”
Reaching the pinnacle of her career at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago has not dampened Chen’s competitive spirit. In fact, she has set an even higher target for herself in Paris, determined to defeat the version of herself from the previous day.
“I consider it job done every day if I can defeat myself of the day before,” Chen said.
With her wealth of experience, renewed focus, and unwavering determination, Chen Meng is poised to once again make her mark on the world stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics, driven by the desire to surpass her own extraordinary achievements.
