The women's table tennis team final of the 2025 National Games took place yesterday (Nov. 19), where the Hebei team faced the Shandong team in a fierce battle for the gold medal. After five intense matches, Shandong narrowly defeated Hebei 3-2 to claim the championship.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Sun Yingsha, from the Hebei team, expressed that while she won a silver medal in the last National Games and two silver medals this time, both experiences represent significant growth.
"During the last Games, our team won the bronze in the team event. Back then, the team was much younger, and I wasn't in a core position, so I didn't feel much pressure," Sun recalled. "This time, we are still a relatively new team, but we made it to the final for the first time, so I'm very satisfied with myself. After losing in the singles, I took a day to rest and recover. My first thought was that I still wanted to play."
Sun noted that both teams gave their best performances in the final. "It's true that we regret losing, but the process of competing and the experiences we've gained are incredibly valuable for the entire team. For me personally, from the end of the singles to the team competition, I feel that my performance in this team event has grown significantly compared to the last Games."
She shared, "After my loss in the singles, I made adjustments over the course of a day. The entire Hebei team, including Coach Yang and my teammates, put a lot of thought into supporting me physically and helping me prepare. They wanted me to give my all in that event first."
Regarding the tournament as a whole, Sun said, "From the first match against Liaoning to facing Heilongjiang again, we didn't approach the National Games with the mindset that we 'must make it to the final' or 'must win gold.' Instead, we focused on giving it our all and playing with determination. As long as everyone gave 100%, that was enough. In the final, I believe everyone saw how hard Shandong fought as well—they played exceptionally well."
When asked about winning the silver medal, Sun responded, "Of course, everyone feels a sense of regret, sadness, and pain. But in life, I think we need to leave room for some regrets. This will motivate us to give everything we've got in future competitions, including the next National Games. No matter what challenges or difficulties we face, or what kind of team we form for the next Games, I hope that we, alongside all of you, will keep getting better and better."
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