She was once a rising star in the national table tennis team, having been teammates with the current "world number one" Fan Zhendong and defeating "Little Demon King" Sun Yingsha on the court. With her beautiful appearance, 1.76-meter height, and outstanding temperament, she is known as the "first beauty of the national table tennis team." She is Wang Tianyi, a gifted table tennis player who chose to leave the national team during the rise of her career. Why did this happen? Let's get closer to Wang Tianyi and understand her unusual life trajectory.
Wang Tianyi's journey in table tennis began with her admiration for her brother in childhood. Born into an ordinary civil servant family, her brother started practicing table tennis from a young age, and under his influence, she also developed a strong interest in the sport. At the age of four, the coach discovered her extraordinary talent and suggested that she receive professional training. Since then, the young Wang Tianyi embarked on her own table tennis career.
At the age of ten, Wang Tianyi joined the Shandong Luneng Table Tennis Club, which is known as the cradle of champions, having cultivated many world champions such as Ma Long and Zhang Jike. Here, Wang Tianyi received more systematic and professional training, and her skills improved rapidly. In 2016, at the age of only 14, Wang Tianyi won the women's singles runner-up at the National Youth Table Tennis Championships, which earned her a spot on the national team, making her one of the youngest members of the team and becoming teammates with Fan Zhendong.
Joining the national team was both an opportunity and a challenge for Wang Tianyi. The training intensity in the national team is very high, with daily schedules packed from morning till night, leaving almost no time for rest. The intense physical training, technical training, and tactical training often left this teenage girl feeling physically and mentally exhausted. However, she never complained and always persisted through gritted teeth because she had a dream in her heart - to become a world champion.
In 2017, Wang Tianyi represented the national team at the Asian Championships and won the gold medal in the women's team event. This was her first championship after joining the national team and an important milestone in her career. Subsequently, she also won the women's team and singles championships at the Italian Open and Hungarian Open, demonstrating her powerful strength and potential.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was the stage Wang Tianyi longed for. She yearned to stand on the Olympic stage and win glory for her country. However, the competition within the national team was extremely fierce, with strong players like Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng blocking her path like towering mountains. Despite Wang Tianyi's tremendous efforts, she unfortunately missed out on the Tokyo Olympics.
Missing the Olympics was a huge blow to Wang Tianyi. But she did not give up; instead, she continued to train hard, hoping to prove herself in subsequent competitions. At the 2023 Chinese Table Tennis Championships, Wang Tianyi experienced a moment of glory. In the mixed doubles event, she and her partner Liu Dingshuo defeated the top-seeded pair known as the "Chosen Mixed Doubles," Sun Yingsha/Wang Chuqin, with a score of 3:0, causing a major upset. This victory made Wang Tianyi famous overnight and allowed her to see her own strength and potential.
However, just when everyone thought Wang Tianyi would continue to make great strides in her table tennis career, she made a shocking decision - to quit the national team. This news immediately aroused widespread attention and speculation from the outside world. Some said it was due to health reasons, others speculated it was psychological pressure, and some suggested she had other plans.
A month later, Wang Tianyi revealed the reason for leaving the national team on social media. She said that years of high-intensity training had taken a heavy toll on her body, and the constant injuries made it impossible for her to continue. She loves table tennis, but cherishes her health even more. After careful consideration, she decided to leave the national team and pursue her dreams in a different way.
After leaving the national team, Wang Tianyi did not completely abandon table tennis. She still participates in some amateur competitions, interacts with fans, and shares her experiences and techniques. She also actively engages in public welfare activities, using her influence to promote table tennis.
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Wang Tianyi appeared on the court as a sparring partner for Sun Yingsha. A fleeting moment captured by the camera unexpectedly made her popular online. Her outstanding looks and unique temperament made her the focus of public attention, earning her the title of "the first beauty of the national table tennis team."
Wang Tianyi's story has sparked people's thoughts. What is success? Is it standing on the podium to enjoy flowers and applause, or pursuing inner peace and freedom? Everyone has their own definition of success, and everyone has the right to choose their own path in life. Wang Tianyi chose the latter, leaving the competitive arena to seek a peaceful life of her own.
Wang Tianyi's story also inspires many young people. It tells us that there is not just one path in life, nor is there only one way to succeed. As long as we bravely pursue our dreams, unafraid of difficulties, and forge ahead, we can surely live a wonderful life that belongs to us.
What will the future hold for Wang Tianyi? We do not know. But her love for table tennis, passion for life, and dedication to her dreams will continue to shine. She is like a bright star that, even after leaving the court, can still radiate her own light on the stage of life.