Training, competing, running a lottery shop with her husband, and raising two children — this is the everyday life for Yang Xiaoxin, the Chinese-born table tennis player who now represents Monaco on the international stage.
As a native of Beijing, Yang was once a member of Beijing's professional table tennis squad. In 2005, she had her first opportunity to play for a professional table tennis club in France, which sparked her ambition to venture out into the world.
She went on to compete in various European countries and began representing Monaco in 2013. She officially became a Monegasque citizen in 2017 and has represented the principality in international competitions ever since.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Yang served as the flag bearer for Monaco's national delegation. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, she also participated in the Olympic torch relay as a torchbearer.
With a land area of only 2.08 square kilometers, Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world. "As you can see, there are basically no table tennis players in Monaco," Yang told DotDotNews. She explained that her current training routine involves meeting her coach twice a week. "He only comes twice — not two full days. The rest of the time, I'm training with the robot," she added with a laugh. In this respect, she noted, Monaco cannot be compared to China.
Apart from training, competitions in Europe are very different from those in China. Here, a significant portion of a player's energy is consumed by off-court matters. "In China, the team handles everything for its players. They have meals provided at the cafeteria, training partners arranged for them, and coaches by their side throughout… Europe's players are essentially fighting their battles alone. You set your own tactics, and analyze your matches afterward by yourself," she said. This is why many Chinese players initially find it hard to adapt when they come to Europe.
In Yang's view, it has much to do with how Europeans perceive table tennis. She explained that for many people in Monaco, it simply means "setting up a table in the backyard" or "placing one on the beach" — essentially just a leisure activity.
However, as Yang has represented Monaco in more and more international competitions, table tennis has gradually gained recognition in the country. In her spare time, she also teaches children and adults, getting more ordinary people involved in the sport. "Today, our club already has over a hundred people; there were only a few dozen before," she said.
Table tennis as bridge: Helping Europeans better understand China
In fact, there are quite a few Chinese players who compete abroad—often called the sport's "overseas contingent." Yang believes that as many of them go overseas to play, people in other countries have come to know more about Chinese culture, recognize the diligence of the Chinese people, and appreciate many other admirable qualities of the Chinese.
Yang added that although players like herself may acquire a different nationality and compete for another country internationally, "we are still promoting Chinese culture, introducing China to the world, and helping people gain a deeper understanding of us."
European table tennis on the rise: Strength advantage drives rapid progress
In recent years, European table tennis has made remarkable progress. There's an undeniable trend that many players achieve notable results at major international tournaments. "In the last two years, European men's table tennis has improved remarkably fast," Yang said.
Yang explained that after the game switched to the larger 40mm ball—a change that reduces spin—European players' natural strength advantage became more pronounced, opening up much broader opportunities for improvement. She also noted that many retired European players have moved into coaching, which has further supported the development of young players.
"If I could choose again in my next life, I'd still play table tennis"
It has been more than 30 years since Yang first picked up a table tennis paddle at the age of six. She still recalls that moment vividly: "There were about twenty kids practicing ball control drills together. The moment I held the paddle, it felt instantly familiar. Within just ten minutes, I could already bounce the ball more than a hundred times," She laughed and added, "So I began to feel that I might have a bit of talent for table tennis."
When asked how table tennis has changed her life, Yang said the sport taught her early on to persevere and "not give up when faced with difficulties," helping her build a strong sense of resilience.
She continued, "Playing table tennis also made me a much more outgoing person… Through table tennis competitions, I am glad that I made many new friends and earned quite a few honors along the way. I even had the chance to come to Monaco and even got to meet the Prince himself. There have been so many joyful moments." Smiling, Yang added, "If I could choose again in my next life, I'd still play table tennis."
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