FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renowned table tennis player Lily Zhang is set to make history once again when she represents the US at the WTT World Tour in Singapore and Doha, Qatar.
Lily, 25, made history when she won the US a bronze medal in the mixed doubles category of the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals held in Houston.
The accomplished athlete, who is a three-time Olympian, made history last year when she brought the US its first table tennis medal in 62 years. She achieved the spectacular win with China’s Lin Gaoyuan; the duo were one of two US-China teams entered into the championships to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Ping Pong Diplomacy.
Zhang hopes to replicate similar success as she sets out on the World Tour: “I am really looking forward to participating in the first international event of 2022 and compete alongside the Chinese National Team’s Sun YingSha and Chen Meng – the world’s top two table tennis players. It’s great to be able to share an arena with top athletes from around the world,” says Zhang.
Lily is confident that she’s entering the tournament armed with fresh set of skills and tricks that have sharpened her game all thanks to the constant support of her coach, Mr. Zheng Pu.
She says: “My coach Zheng Pu helped make some technical adjustments in my recent training and helped improve my serve and returning serves. Combined with special fitness training sessions and strengthening the flexibility of my footwork to react to high-intensity confrontation, I feel like I’m more ready than ever to participate in this tournament.”
In fact, Zhang credits her historic 2021 bronze medal to the bold technical adjustments as well as well-rounded training introduced by Coach Pu, a high-level athlete who was a member of the Chinese national team.
“I deeply trust Coach Zheng Pu. He has been instrumental to my successful journey as a table tennis player. He has a lot of special ideas and helps improve all aspects of my game,” explains Lily.
Coach Zheng Pu has immense faith in his pupil Zhang’s ability to score more accolades for the US in the WTT World Tour.
“Lily is a very hard working and disciplined athlete whose achievements are rewards for her long efforts. Besides being an Olympian, she’s also a Pan American champion, gold medalist in Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Team events, and has hit a world ranking of 26; her achievements are remarkable and endless. The biggest task for me as her coach is to prepare her for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. As the pandemic gradually subsides, we’ll be ensuring that Lily participates in numerous international competitions, starting with the WTT World Tour in Singapore and Doha as part of her preparations for the Olympics. I know that Lily will give her best shot at the tournament this year and wish her all the best,” concludes Coach Pu.
Table Tennis America (TTA) is a state-of-the-art table tennis training centre in the Bay Area. Founded in 2015 by Hailong Shen, TTA provides promising young US players with world-class facilities to further develop their skills and careers of professional table tennis players.
Lily trains with Coach Pu at TTA 7 days a week. TTA is also Lily’s Home Club.
PROGRAMS AT TTA!
Private lessons, Small group lessons, Advance training Camp, Mini Groups, Open Play & Summer Camps
