Story by reader Singapore Sports Fan
Singapore paddler Li Jiawei has dropped a bombshell at the Beijing Olympics after her heart-breaking loss in the women's bronze medal play-off.
The 27-year-old, who, earlier this week, had helped Singapore to win the women's team silver and break its 48-year medal drought at the Olympics, has revealed to Shin Min Daily News that she is tired after being a full-time athlete for 13 years and that she plans to study at the Peking University next year.
A day after her 2-4 loss to world no 2 Guo Yue in the third-and-fourth play-offs, the second time that she has lost the bronze decider, Li told Shin Min that the Beijing Games is likely to be her last Olympics. She also thanked Singapore for developing her into a world-class player.
Then she dropped the bombshell.
"I will be playing for the Peking University's table tennis club in Ocotber," she said. "As a result, I am also thinking of enrolling in the Peking University for studies."
However, the three-time Singapore Sportswoman of the Year added that she has not confirmed her plans and that she will only make a decision when after she returns to Singapore and after discussions with the Singapore Table Tennis Association about her future.
"I've trained for so many years so I am feeling a bit tired," she said.
"I'm also already 27. All these years, I have missed out on the opportunity to do so many other things. I've not had the chance to study either.
"But these are just my thoughts for now. I will go back to Singapore and have a discussion with the STTA president first."
Li, a former trainee at the Beijing Sports School along with world no1 Zhang Yining, was spotted by STTA officials during a scouting trip in 1995 and persuaded to come to Singapore to don national colours.
She was only 13 then. She did not go through the Singapore education system during her 13 years as a full-time trainee. However, she is currently the world no 6 and has won countless SEA and Commonwealth Games table-tennis titles and a handful of Asian Games medals.
These wins for Singapore, as well as her successes on the ITTF Pro-Circuit have helped her to earn close to a million dollars in awards and winnings.
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It is pretty sad to see her leaving Singapore. I hope she will continue to stay in Singapore, and play for our country. As I thhought she’s really a good table tennis player. But we will have to respect her decision. If she really decide to leave singapore to persue her studies, then we will have to send her our well wishes. But it will be very sad to see her leave…
Definitely giving her the full support to pursue her studies if that’s her objective.
However, though she’s origin from Beijing, her name in singapore has become a household name even before this Olympic 2008. Felt sad seeing her living for good after all.
If she really is going to Peking University to further her studies and leave Singapore, i think it’ll probably make many sad & break their hearts (me included) seeing how she has been in Singapore ever since she was 13. She has indeed come a long way, and if she ultimately decides to do so, i will still respect her decision, although it really is disheartening. It’s just that i would really like to still see her in singapore, and even if she stops playing, a reasonable prospect would have her taking on the position of a coach or the like. It just seems like a pity to let someone like her go just like that after she’s past her peak ):
[…] Li Jiawei to play for and study at Peking University next year? Another bombshell news. Will Li Jiawei play for and study at Peking University next year? Read the story at Redsports.sg. […]
It would be sad if Li Jiawei decides to leave Singapore to play for Peking University table tennis club and pursue her studies there. If it is her personal desicison to do so, we will have to respect that. However if the reason is because STTA or the sports ministry is unable to offer her comparable welfare where Peking can do much better, then perhaps we should look into, not just attracting foreign talent, but also to be able to look after their livelihood after their “golden years’ have diminished. Otherwise, who would be prepared to sacrifice 15-20 years of their life in a sport when nobody would be able to reasonably look after your “bread and butter” issues.
Feel free to suggestion you own version and we will post it, anne.
the poll isn’t very fair.