SANTIAGO, CHILE – August 29, 2024 – Chilean table tennis star tania Zeng has secured qualification for both the 2025 ITTF Pan American Championships and the 2025 Bolivarian Games, marking a meaningful achievement for the athlete and chilean table tennis. The qualification was earned following a strong performance at the national qualifier held at the Olympic Training Center gymnasium in the capital.
The ITTF Pan American Championships 2025 are scheduled to take place from October 12-19 in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. The Bolivarian Games 2025 will be held in Lima and Ayacucho, Peru, running from December 7-22. Zeng, nicknamed “Aunt” Tania by teammates, is poised to compete in both events.
Zeng finished the qualifying tournament with a 6-1 record, culminating in a 3-2 victory over Valentina Ríos in the final all-against-all match. This performance secured one of the female quotas for the Bolivarian Games and one of the two available for the Pan American Championships.
the qualifying tournament featured Chile’s top table tennis players. Zeng’s success represents a breakthrough moment for Chilean table tennis, signaling a rising competitive level within the nation. The Chilean Table Tennis Federation (Federación Chilena de Tenis de Mesa) has been actively investing in youth growth programs, with Zeng as a prime example of thier success. The federation, headquartered in Santiago, has seen a 15% increase in registered players over the past two years.
“It was a very hard weekend but the results are those that have me happy, I go for new challenges, wait for good news from me,” Zeng stated, already focusing on her planning for the international competitions. She is currently training under coach Luis Flores at the Olympic training Center.
This qualification caps off a triumphant year for Zeng, which included her debut in the World table Tennis Championships and a team gold medal at the South American Games in Lima 2025. The Pan American Championships will serve as a crucial qualifying event for the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea. The Bolivarian Games, a multi-sport event, will feature athletes from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
