Tokyo Olympics: Syrian table tennis prodigy Hend Zaza, 12, heads to China for training

Name: Tokyo 2020 week one highlights – and which Olympic events could deliver more medals for Hong Kong
Uploaded: 2021-08-03T12:00:13.000Z
Duration: 7 min
Description: Tokyo 2020 week one highlights – and which Olympic events could deliver more medals for Hong Kong

Growing up in war-ravaged Syria, Zaza beat a range of adversities to become the youngest Olympian in Tokyo

She could arrive in China as early as September at the invitation of the Chinese Olympic Committee

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Hend Zaza, the youngest athlete competing in the Tokyo Olympics, in action during the opening round of the women’s table tennis singles on July 24. Photo: Kyodo

Rachel Zhang

Published: 8:00pm, 3 Aug 2021Updated: 10:00pm, 3 Aug 2021

Twelve-year-old Hend Zaza, Syrian table tennis prodigy and youngest athlete at the Tokyo Olympics, has been invited to train in China and is expected to arrive as early as September, state media said.

Zaza, also the youngest Olympian since the 1992 Barcelona Games, lost to Austria’s Liu Jia in straight sets in the opening round of the women’s singles – her Games debut over in 24 minutes.

Despite being knocked out, Zaza was a “great talent” with good rhythm and instincts, Liu, 39, told Xinhua. “When she is 14 or 16, she will be a strong opponent,” Liu said.

“If she wants to make further progress, there may be few such opportunities for her in Syria. It is incredible that she can reach such a high level [of excellence] under the existing conditions in Syria,” she added.

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Tokyo 2020 week one highlights – and which Olympic events could deliver more medals for Hong Kong

Zaza qualified for Tokyo after winning the Western Asia Olympic Qualification Tournament last year, becoming the youngest table tennis player to book a Games berth and the first Syrian paddler to do so through the qualifier.