In the first match against far more experienced Liu Jia (39), it was a clear loss for the 12-year-old, but Zaza has every reason to be proud.
The Syrian girl secured her Olympic ticket all the way back in February 2020, when she beat 42-year-old Mariana Sahakian from Lebanon in the Asian qualifiers. At the Olympics, she represents the Olympic refugee team.
Zaza is the first Syrian table tennis player to win national titles at all levels.
– It is a gift to my country, my parents and my friends, she said before the Olympics began.
As with most Syrian children, much of Zaza’s childhood has been marked by the civil war in his homeland. Table tennis has served as an escape from reality for the young girl.
Repeated power outages have made it difficult to complete the training sessions, which have taken place indoors, in a room with four tired table tennis tables and a wobbly floor. For the 12-year-old, however, it is not relevant to let the bad conditions get in the way of the ambitions to win an Olympic medal.
Zaza is the youngest of five children and has four older brothers. The father is a former football player and current gym teacher.
– Sports are in my blood, she has said in an interview with CGTN.com.
– My family has given me enormous support since the beginning, and since I have been the youngest they have taken very good care of me. They help me get ahead in sports.
According to Brand the young girl has not downgraded the school, despite the sports commitment. Zaza loves math, and is also a big Harry Potter fan.
Now the Olympics are over for Zaza, but with her young age she will have more than enough time to participate in more.
– It was very difficult to be mentally prepared for the Olympics, but I think I managed to cope with it, and that is what I think I did best during the match.
– The main lesson was to lose the match, and especially the first match. Next time I will work hard to get through the first, second and third rounds, because I want to play more in this tournament, she stated after Saturday’s loss.
–
