Chinese para table tennis player Mao Jingdian, who has already secured numerous world titles, including three Paralympic and Para Asian championships, is preparing for the upcoming Hangzhou event. Our reporter Cao Bing caught up with her during her training in Hebei, where she shared her thoughts on table tennis and competition.

Mao Jingdian, a 28-year-old three-time Paralympic gold medalist and the all-time Asian champion, is once again gearing up for her fourth Asian Para Games.

MAO JINGDIAN Chinese Para Table Tennis Player "I grew up playing table tennis, and throughout my life, I've always enjoyed competition a lot."

She will be competing in three events in the Class 8 para table tennis matches at the Hangzhou Asian event: singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

She explained that the competition and rules are not much different from regular matches.

MAO JINGDIAN Chinese Para Table Tennis Player "This thing I wear is called an orthosis. Because of my leg disability, it can help me take some of the weight off when I'm playing, especially when I'm moving, so I can play for a longer time. That makes it different from regular table tennis matches, but apart from that, everything's just the same."

She said she is aiming for gold, but she now has a different understanding of winning and losing.

MAO JINGDIAN Chinese Para Table Tennis Player "Initially, I really enjoyed the feeling of winning the game; it was a rush of hormones and excitement. But now I think losing also has meaning. It makes me pay attention to the details, become more focused, and, at the same time, overcoming each point when you are lagging behind is also a test of mentality and temper. I think that is very important."

She added that there are many challenges on the path to becoming an athlete, but persistence is crucial. Whether in training or competition, just holding on a bit longer can make a big difference. CB, CGTN, Zhengding, Hebei Province.