Xinhuanet, Beijing, April 18 (Reporter Hu Kelu) At the age of 61, she is the oldest player in the history of table tennis in the Olympics. On the field, she tried her best to enjoy the game, and responded to every support with a bright smile; outside the field, she had multiple identities, including coach, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. When people admire her courage and persistence beyond themselves, she said, "Table tennis is not the only one in my life." Her calm and free wisdom in life is shown in her words.

  The interview program "Era Summary" jointly launched by Xinhuanet and Guizhou Abstract Wine talks with Ni Xialian, talking about her table tennis life and family life across national borders and times, showing the warm and tenacious heart of this "evergreen in the table tennis world" outside the public eye.

  Table Tennis is not the only joy that comes with playing ball

  "No matter what the result is, I enjoy this process." In the cruel competitive arena, Ni Xialian's sincerity and love infect everyone. Compared with most athletes who want to strive for a good ranking on the Olympic stage, Ni Xialian's participation philosophy is less "competitive" and more "slack".

  Unlike the grand scenes of the Olympics, Ni Xialian is busy with life on weekdays. This tiny happiness made Ni Xialian feel fulfilled. Ni Xialian likes to make Chinese cuisine for her family, especially Shanghai cuisine, and to make Shanghai wontons for the children, take care of the garden, and interact with relatives and friends. "I said I was a housewife and looked like I was joking. It was true. I did everything at home, I did it, cook, wipe the floor, buy vegetables, and I did it all at home. It was not forced by others. I felt fulfilled and happy. This was life, and it was a life with a sense of responsibility."

  "Many people think that table tennis is the only big event in my life, but in fact, table tennis ranks fourth in my life." In the interview, family was a topic that Ni Xialian repeatedly mentioned. In Ni Xialian's view, family happiness is an important support for playing basketball. Without the support of my family, it will be difficult for me to persist all the way.

  While playing in Luxembourg, Ni Xialian met his current lover, Swedish Tommy Danielsen. "He came to Luxembourg to be a national team coach in 1994 and helped me a lot. We participated in many domestic and international competitions and achieved relatively good results." Ni Xialian said, "Fortunately, my career and family were not lost. No matter where we train and compete, he was with me and arranged the trivial matters of my life very well. I had no worries, so I was very down-to-earth."

  For Ni Xialian, the sport of table tennis is not easy. She has been from Shanghai Amateur Sports School to the Chinese national team. She has been practicing hard since she was a child and wants to win and prove herself to be a champion. But at this age, she no longer needs to stare at the ball like before.

  "For me, records, medals, and attention are not important. I play in my spare time and I am happy to win two games, but it doesn't matter if I lose. I am very satisfied with my current life, keep a good attitude, and all my smiles come from the heart." During the interview, we saw a woman full of vitality and joy in playing basketball, paving the legendary path with love and persistence. Just like the abstract wine condensed by time and years, inheriting the traditional brewing skills of sauce wine, it has made high-quality liquor with mellow sauce aroma, and written a new chapter in the liquor industry with its profound cultural heritage.

  Use the ball as a media to help cultural exchanges between the East and the West

  62-year-old Ni Xialian skillfully rolled wonton skins, and the flour scattered on the chopping board complemented the competition photos placed next to her. This legendary athlete who has been fighting in the table tennis world for many years laughed in Mandarin with Shanghai accent: "My life is like a table tennis ball, and I flew to an unexpected place as I turned around."

  In Luxembourg, playing basketball is just Ni Xialian's "side job", she has her own company and hotel. Ni Xialian and Tomi are also committed to social welfare. They founded the "Love Home" to help those who encounter difficulties in life. Ni Xialian said that they hope to bring warmth and hope to those in need through their own efforts.

  As a self-media blogger with two million fans, Ni Xialian often posts short videos and life comments on social media, and also answers various questions from netizens. "I think happiness is not only happiness, but it would be even better if it can bring happiness to others. In this process, I gradually felt a sense of mission. I would feel more relieved to see that I can influence some people in Luxembourg, let them see table tennis and fall in love with table tennis. A person's value is far more than the winners and losses on the court. If playing basketball can enhance exchanges and friendship between the East and the West, and let the world understand China, I think it is a very meaningful thing."

  The experience of growing up in China and moving to Europe at the age of 26 made Ni Xialian very familiar with Eastern and Western cultures, so Ni Xialian also longed to be a bridge for East-West exchanges. Ni Xialian said that although she is far away from her hometown, she still continues her career in table tennis, and conveys Chinese culture through this sport and contributes to the friendly exchanges between Luxembourg and China.

  Ni Xialian believes that the spirit of table tennis is not only a competitive spirit, but also a attitude towards life. It teaches people to never give up and have the courage to challenge themselves. She hopes to convey positive energy through her own efforts, so that more people can feel the power of the ping-pong spirit, and thus inspire them to dare to pursue their dreams.

  "The winner is temporary, and the spirit is eternal. 'Strive for the upper hand' actually contains a kind of spirit and responsibility, being responsible for yourself, being responsible for others, and striving to be the best self." Ni Xialian's legendary life has long surpassed the meaning of competition itself, and is a journey about dreams, love and responsibility. She used her actions to interpret what the true ping-pong spirit is and what the true meaning of life is. Whether in the arena or in the life field, "wanting to win" and "enjoyment" do not conflict. Ni Xialian firmly believes that life has nothing to do with age or win or loss, only love and perseverance.

  Fight for the best and set out again. Xinhuanet and Guizhou Abstract Wine jointly present the third season of "Era Summary", using cameras to record various areas of China's development, dialogue with representative figures in the industry, and from a unique perspective and innovative form, we will deeply explore the "new" power of China's development, feel the pulse of the times, and jointly witness the magnificent chapter of China's continuous progress in the wave of the times.

[Editor in charge: Feng Kong]