ITTF awards special honor to Paralympics veterans

Source: Xinhua | 09-15-2008 19:01

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- World table tennis governing body ITTF awarded on Monday a special honor to the veteran paddlers who had played at least six Paralympics.

A total of 10 players - two women and eight men - from seven countries and regions got the honor.

"The award is to encourage disabled players for their persistence and excellent performance in table tennis," ITTF Technical Committee chairman, Yao Zhenxu, said.

"Twenty years are a long time. It is even not easy for able-bodied people to play that long. For them, it is much more difficult," he said.

Chairperson of the ITTF Para Table Tennis Committee, Oivind Eriksen, presented the awards to the players.

"I am very impressed that it has been possible to perform on top level in table tennis over a period of 20 and 24 years," he said. "You are great examples for the next table tennis generations."

Zhang Xiaoling, a Chinese player in women's class 8 that has won 10 gold medals in the previous five Paralympics, said she was "really happy" for the honor.

"I know how difficult it is for disabled people to play for more than 20 years. Many of them did not win so many medals, and it would be particularly difficult for them. They are all heroes," she said.