“But there is another type – like Ding and me. We have played together since a very young age, seeing each other in practice every day, but also competing against each other on the court. In fact, we spend more time together than with our family members. But because of this long-time rivalry, our relationship seems to be close but is also quite distant. And this kind of competitive nature relationship has existed for a long time.”

Liu, 28, has alway been in the shadow of her more decorated teammate Ding, who is ten months older. Ding won a singles silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games when Liu was along for the ride as a back-up.

At the 2016 Rio Games, Liu and Ding were both members of Team China and joined forces with Li Xiaoxia to take the team gold. But Liu did not feature in the singles, always considered the biggest honour for mainland paddlers. Ding made no mistake in clinching her first Olympic singles title when she defeated Li, the 2012 London Games champion, in the final.

At the 2015 Worlds in Suzhou, China, the duo met in a heated singles final in front of a thrilled home crowd when Ding eventually prevailed after seven games to take the title. But many of Liu’s supporters later accused Ding of gamesmanship. Ding injured her right ankle at 2-0 down and was given a 10-minute medical time out before coming back to win the game 11-8 and taking the title. Many of Liu’s fans considered the “injury” was, in fact, Ding seeking to gain an advantage by breaking the match’s rhythm. That explains why Liu’s fans were so pleased with the now-famous 11-0 game in their encounter at this year’s World Championships.

At the Worlds in Budapest back in April, Liu finally took the centre stage. She showcased her quality by defeating up-and-coming Chinese starlet Chen Meng in the final to clinch her first ever singles world title. But in the semi-finals, she sent two-time defending champion Ding home after a 4-2 win, which included the humiliating 11-0 fifth game, an outcome rarely witnessed between international teammates.

During the TV programme, Liu made no secret of how disappointed she was to not make the three-member team, which featured Ding, Li and Guo Yue, at the 2012 London Games.

“I went to London only as a reserve player with a ‘P-card’ accreditation, which allowed you no benefits at all – not like a real Olympian,” she said. “In fact, my London Games experience was primarily as a training partner for the trio, from the singles to the team event. I could never walk into the competition venue to watch the games – I had to stay in the stands with the spectators, or watch on a small television in the training hall. I could not even enter the dining hall with a ‘P-card’. Unlike other athletes, I needed to present dining coupons.

“When they won the singles and team gold medals, I felt happy about my contribution as a training partner. But at that moment I cried because I thought I had the ability to make the team, but missed out. In fact, I cried a lot during the London Olympics. I cried in my bed at night but was worried my roommate might hear me. I chose to cry in the shower so no one could hear.”

After capturing team gold at the Rio Games, Liu is now fully focused on next year’s Tokyo Olympics. “There’s still a year to go before the 2020 Olympic Games and I must grab this opportunity. I would sacrifice anything at this stage, just give me the victories!” she said.

China overlooks top-ranked Liu Shiwen for Rio Games ticket

There will be five table tennis gold medals up for grabs at the 2020 Olympics after mixed doubles was added to the programme. Sixteen teams will qualify for the team event in Tokyo, and China will almost certainly qualify. Each team comprises three members: two of them will also compete in the singles while one of them also in the mixed doubles with a men’s team player.

Liu, who first won a world junior team gold medal for China when she was 13, is having a strong year ahead of the Tokyo Games and is strongly tipped to be selected in all three events.