Olympic Grandmother: Tania Zeng's Inspiring Journey from China to Chile and Beyond

Table tennis player Zeng Zhiying, known in Chile as Tania, left China in 1989 to teach table tennis in Chile. After retiring from the sport and dedicating time to her business and family, she revived her dream of becoming a professional athlete during the pandemic. At age 58, she will debut in the Olympic Games in Paris. Zeng shot to fame in Chile by winning a bronze medal at the Pan American Games last year, and she continues to inspire as she fulfills her lifelong dream.

Table tennis player Zeng Zhiying, who left China in 1989 amidst the Tiananmen Square turmoil to teach in northern Chile, is set to debut in the Olympic Games at age 58 under her Chilean name, Tania.

Tania Zeng, who won a bronze at last year's Pan American Games in Santiago, retired from table tennis to focus on her business and family. Her passion for the sport rekindled during the pandemic, and she will achieve her dream in Paris. ''I never imagined making it to the Olympic Games,'' Zeng said, explaining how her confidence grew with each game she played.

Zeng, the oldest athlete in her country's delegation, originally hails from Foshan, China, where she trained under her mother. After a successful stint in high-performance table tennis, she moved to Chile in 1989, teaching in Arica and then Iquique, becoming a beloved figure in the nation. She currently ranks 151st globally and is part of Chile's national team, which won bronze at the Pan American Games. Zeng is now focused on her Olympic journey, aware of the increased injury risk at her age but driven by fan support and family encouragement.

(With inputs from agencies.)