German table tennis international Ying Han is competing at the $2 million China Smash in Beijing at age 43, returning to the country of her birth just months after overcoming back-to-back Achilles tendon ruptures in both legs, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported.
Journey to Beijing and the China Smash
The Düsseldorf-based athlete enters the tournament in Beijing ranked 16th in the world, making her Germany’s second-highest-ranked female player behind Sabine Winter. Born in Shenyang, China, Han left her homeland 24 years ago to pursue professional opportunities in Europe, acquiring German citizenship 16 years ago and joining the national team 13 years prior.
Following the conclusion of the Beijing tournament, Han travels directly to Ljubljana, Slovenia, where she will contend for her first career European singles title. Her career record with the German national team includes ten major medals across Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships, highlighted by a team silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The 2002 Migration From Shenyang to Busenbach
Han began playing table tennis at age five in Shenyang. By age 18, she recognized the extreme competition for selection within China’s national pool. “When I was 18 and still not a national team player, I knew: That’s not going to happen anymore,” Han told Süddeutsche Zeitung. Utilizing contacts established by her coach, she moved to Germany in 2002 at age 19 to join the Baden Bundesliga club TV Busenbach, initially planning a one-year stay that extended into more than two decades.
Her naturalization process required relinquishing her Chinese citizenship in early 2011, when Chinese authorities officially invalidated her passport. Reflecting on her dual cultural background, Han noted that identity transcends official documents, stating that a passport is merely a piece of paper and that she feels foremost as an individual.
Overcoming Consecutive Achilles Tendon Ruptures in 2024
Han’s continued presence at the sport’s elite level follows a severe physical setback during the 2024 season. In January, she suffered a complete rupture of her right Achilles tendon during a tournament in Doha. After completing a rehabilitation program, she returned to competition six months later at a tournament in Bangkok, just prior to the Paris Olympics, only to rupture her left Achilles tendon.
The injuries prompted initial considerations of retirement before she resumed training. “That is a lot of hard work,” Han said regarding her ability to remain competitive at age 43.
Next Steps in Ljubljana
Han’s immediate schedule features the continuation of matches at the China Smash in Beijing, followed immediately by her departure for the European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where matches commence in the following days.
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