Table Tennis

April 27, 1980

Wang Chen

Born: January 17, 1974, in Beijing, China

Current Residence: New York, NY

Ethnicity: Chinese

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 140 lbs.

Event: Women’s singles, women’s team

Did you know? Though Wang didn’t get her passport in time for Athens, she qualified for Beijing based upon her world ranking.

Wang Chen was born and raised in Beijing. She began playing table tennis after being chosen when she was in elementary school. By 11, she was a professional. She became the Junior World Singles Champion at 14. However, despite having earned two world championship medals by 2000, she was not chosen for the Atlanta and Sydney games. Coaches for the Chinese team going to Atlanta preferred older players and selected the top three players for the Sydney games, although she was fourth in the world.

A famous celebrity in China, she moved to New York City and began to coach Chinese American children whose parents had heard of her. However, her comeback was not easy. She experienced extreme back pain from bending over the table, forcing her to sleep on the floor. And because of the lack of top table tennis players in the U.S., Wang had to “import” training partners from China or train with European teams at events. Her hard work has paid off, giving her a first chance to go to the Olympics. She qualified for the Games through her world ranking and fulfilling certain criteria.

Career Highlights:

2008 Semifinals at Brazilian Open: Bronze medal — U.S.A.

Quarterfinals: Chile Open — U.S.A.

Quarterfinals: Singapore Open — U.S.A.

2007 Pan American Games: Team Gold medal — U.S.A.

Pan American Games: Singles Bronze medal — U.S.A.

North American Championship: Women’s Singles Gold medal — U.S.A.

Quarterfinal at World Championships — U.S.A.

2006 North American Championship: Women’s Singles Gold medal — U.S.A.

1997 Team Gold: World Championships — China

1995 Bronze Doubles: World Championships — China

#1 ranking as of January 1, 2008.

Crystal Huang

Born: July 18, 1979, in Changsha, Hunan, China

Current Residence: San Gabriel, Calif.

Ethnicity: Chinese

Height: 5’3”

Weight: 110 lbs.

Event: Women’s singles, women’s team

Grip: rbp penholder

Did you know? Though Huang says she does everything slow, she loves roller coaster rides.

The word to best describe Crystal Huang would “prodigy.” As opposed to her teammates who train all-year round in China or elsewhere, she only trains for the trials. At this year’s trials, she successfully defeated her opponents without dropping a single game.

She is an avid travel enthusiast, with Philadelphia being her latest travel spot. She is also humble; after a full day of matches where she emerged undefeated, she kept her focus on winning rather than representing the U.S. at the Olympics.

Originally from Changsha in the province of Hunan, China, the Beijing Games will be the first for the 29 year old.

2004 & 2006 SoCal Women’s Singles Champion, 2005 Runner-up

2005 U.S. Women’s Doubles Champion, Mixed Doubles Runner-up

2005 U.S. Open Under 30 Women’s Champion

1990-92 Member of Hunan Province Team in China

1993-98 Member of Dongguang City Team in China

Interview by Leila Kang

How does it feel to be going to your first Olympic Games?

It feels absolutely awesome! I made numerous sacrifices to get where I am today. I spent a lot of time, energy and finances to achieve a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. I worked hard training overseas in China for 6 months to prepare for the U.S. & North American Olympic Trials.

Who or what inspires you?

My two best friends, Tawny Banh (2004 U.S. Olympian) and Gao Jun (2008/2004/2000 U.S. Olympian), inspire me to be the best that I can be on and off the court. They are my practice partners and encourage and motivate me to train hard to achieve my goals.

What do you hope to take away from your Olympics experience?

Win or lose, every participant is a winner. Every athlete has worked extremely hard just to make it to the Olympics.

What is your pre-game ritual?

I just get a good stretch and then warm-up well at the table - do some drills. I just try to stay calm and relaxed, so that I can mentally focus.

How do you feel about the new three-person match play?

Before it was all singles, five matches. The third player would normally play only one match. Now, it’s four singles and one doubles, with the doubles being the third match. The third player will play doubles and may also play a singles match if necessary, depending on results. Doubles is a big factor and will be focused on in training.

What do you like most about table tennis?

It’s a fun indoor lifetime sport - great hand-eye coordination and aerobic exercise.

What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

My strengths are my close-to-the-table attack, my backhand loop and service. My weakness is sometimes I tend to lose concentration during a match.

What are your goals?

My goal is to have a successful table tennis club. After the Olympics, I will be semi-retired. I won’t train and compete much.

What is the first thing you’d do if you win the gold?

I would scream and hug my two teammates and coach.

David Zhuang

Born: September 1, 1963, in Guangdong, China

Current Residence: West Windsor, NJ

Ethnicity: Chinese

Height: 5′11″

Weight: 165 lbs.

Event: Table Tennis

Grip: Chinese Penholder

Did you know?: Zhuang is married to his coach, Joannie Fu.

The 2008 Olympic Games marks David Zhuang’s third Olympics, having competed in 1996 in Atlanta and in 2000 in Sydney. A native of Guangdong, China, Zhuang began playing table tennis at age 8. He turned pro at the tender age of 12. He came to the United States at age 17 to pursue table tennis more seriously. He is known to change his tactics during a match to frustrate opponents, which has served him well and earned him a few championships. He has a son and a daughter with his wife/coach, Joannie Fu.

2007 U.S. Nationals - Men’s Doubles Runner-up

2006 U.S. Nationals - Men’s Singles Champion

2006 U.S. Nationals - Men’s Doubles Champion

2006 Meiklejohn North American Seniors Open Champion

2005 Matthew J. Murad Memorial Open - Open Singles Finalist

2004 U.S. Nationals - Men’s Singles Runner-up

2003 U.S. Nationals - Men’s Doubles Champion

2001/2000/1999 U.S. National - Men’s Doubles Champion

2000 U.S. National - Men’s Singles Champion

1999 Pan Am Game - Gold Medalist in Men’s Singles and Men’s Teams

Gao Jun

Currently ranked number nine in the world, Gao Jun was introduced to table tennis by her father at the age of five. Born in Hebei, China, Jun attended a special boarding school in China designed for training future professional athletes. She would train for several hours everyday after her classes and was only allowed to go home on Sundays.

After winning a silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for China, Jun married a Chinese American and became a U.S. citizen. She earned a degree in economics at East China University of Science and Technology in 2005. She currently resides in Gaithersburg, Md., but trains in China. She is a winner of five North American titles. Her sister was forbidden from becoming an athlete due to the high demands of table tennis - she ended up earning a law degree. This will be Gao’s fourth appearance at the Olympics.

Born: January 25, 1969, in Hebei, China

Current Residence: Gaithersburg, Maryland

Ethnicity: Chinese

Height: 5′7″

Weight: 150 lbs

Did you know? When Jun was playing for the Chinese National Team, she took little notebooks to matches in which she recorded her opponent’s styles, allowing her to never make the same mistake twice.

Career highlights:

2007 Pan Am Games Women’s Singles Gold Medal

2004 Korea & Singapore ITTF Pro Tour Events Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist

2003 World Championships Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist

2003 Pan Am Games Women’s Singles & Team Gold Medal

2003 Korean ITTF Pro Tour Women’s Doubles Finalist

1999 Pan Am Games Women’s Singles Gold Medal

1999 2001 & 2002 North American Women’s Singles Champion

1999 2000 & 2001 North American Women’s Doubles Champion

1994 U.S. Open Women’s Singles Champion

1993 World Championships Women’s Team Champion

1993 World Championships Women’s Singles & Doubles Semifinalist

1992 Asian Cup Women’s Singles Runner-up

1992 Olympic Women’s Doubles Silver Medal

1991 World Championships Women’s Doubles Champion

1990 Asian Games Women’s Singles Runner-up

1990 & 1991 World Cup Women’s Team Champion

Photo sources:

Gao2 - cache.daylife.com

Gao3 - Photo by Rémy Gros, by courtesy of the ITTF

Gao4 - vsbw.com

Gao5 - Photo by Rémy Gros, by courtesy of the ITTF

Gao6 - jamd.com

Gao7 - cache.daylife.com

Gao8 - cache.daylife.com

Gao9 - tabletennis.teamusa.org

Interview by Nancy Weng

What made you interested in table tennis?

When I was little, my parents chose the sport for me.

What were some of the obstacles you had to overcome in becoming a professional table tennis player?

There weren’t a lot of obstacles, but there was a lot of competition, so everybody had to train very hard.

Did you consider any other professions?

Never.

What is the best and worst part of being a professional table tennis player?

The best thing about being a professional table tennis player is that the sport teaches you how to face challenges in your life. There are no bad things about being a table tennis player.

What is your daily routine like?

I practice from 2:30-5 p.m.

Where do you see yourself 20 years from now?

The same, hopefully.

Do you have any advice for aspiring athletes?

Always focus and train hard.

Written by pswing · Filed Under 2008 Beijing Olympics

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