Chinese table tennis ace Chen Meng wants to defeat herself at Paris 2024

Chen Meng, 30, is the oldest player in the Chinese women's national table tennis team. As reigning singles and team champion from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she has a new target for the coming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris: to defeat herself.

Chen Meng was announced as a member of the Chinese national team for the Paris Games three days after she beat her compatriot Sung Yingsha in the Saudi Smash 2024 women's singles final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in May.

Before that victory, Chen knocked out three Japanese players, Miu Hirano, Hita Hayata and Miwa Harimoto, all likely tough opponents for China in Paris.

"The three Japanese players I played in Saudi, they all have their own characteristics in their style of playing," Chen told China Media Group (CMG). "They all have good skills, play with aggression and pose serious threats. But by analyzing their game, I was able to play with a clear head."

Having gone through a perfect edition of Olympic Games in Tokyo, today's Chen Meng is more experienced in preparing herself for the coming Paris Olympics. She has been paying a lot attention to both improving her skills and enhancing her endurance.

"Several years ago, I never prioritized improving any part of my game," Chen said. "I just kept tried to do everything better. But now I am in a bigger need for better endurance. I have aged and found that I recover slower than before. I have realized that better endurance will keep me in a better form."

Having reached the summit of her career at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Chen won't stop challenging herself. This time in Paris, she has a higher target.

"I consider it job done every day if I can defeat myself of the day before," Chen said.