THREE RISING TABLE TENNIS STARS WITH SHAOLIN KUNGFU

TTA and the National Selection Panel announced the 2021 National Hopes Squad on 10 May 2021. A total of 3 boys and 5 girls from NSW who undertook Hopes activities have been selected.

Two NSW girls, Dorothy Chen and Elina Chen are selected into the 2021 National Hopes Squad after their elder sister Celine Chen was selected into the 2018 National Hopes Squad. Celine is the current National Junior Squad member.

                 Shaolin Kungfu - (Martial Arts) - Masters - Elina, Dorothy and Celine

It is believed that it is the first time in Australian Table Tennis history; all three sisters in one family are selected into National Hopes Squad and National Junior Squad at the same time.

Celine Chen is well known for her achievements as 2018 ITTF - Oceanian Hopes Champion and 2019 Australian Hopes Champion, but Rome wasn't built in a day. It is a long journey for Dorothy, Elina and Celine to become the rising table tennis stars.

                             Elina Chen and Dorothy Chen - 2021 National Hopes Challenge

Almost nobody knows that Celine, Dorothy and Elina had professional training of Shaolin Kungfu - Martial Arts for some time before they started to play table tennis around 6 years old each. It looks like that Shaolin Kungfu - Martial Arts is essential to be a good table tennis player.

Three sisters had very hard training days after days, weeks after weeks, and years after years. They usually have training during 7pm - 10pm three times per week plus one day competition, while they continued their Shaolin Kungfu training. They also travelled to China for high standard professional trainings as well several times.

In 2018 Australian National Junior Championships, Celine won U11 & U13 Girls Singles Gold Medals, U13 Girls Doubles Silver Medal and U13 Girls Team Silver Medal.

                      Celine Chen - 2018 National Junior Table Tennis Championships

In 2019 Australian National Junior Championships, Celine won U13 Girls Singles Gold Medal, U13 & U15 Girls Doubles Gold Medals, U13 Mixed Doubles Silver Medal and U13 Girls Team Gold Medal.

          Celine Chen and Alice Lee - 2019 Melbourne Table Tennis Open Championships

TTNSW Director and State Junior Team Manager, Leonie Whiteford, congratulated Celine, Dorothy and Elina on their achievements in table tennis.

Leonie said: “Look, TTNSW junior players are not only able to win medals in table tennis, but they are also able to win medals in Martial Arts if they want. TTNSW welcomes more junior players with Shaolin Kungfu - Martial Arts to join in us. Well done, Girls! TTNSW is proud of you.”

Celine Chen, Alice Lee, Yangzi Liu, Sanaya Buddhadasa - 2020 NSW Junior Championships

Celine said: “We are not only Shaolin Kungfu masters; we are also looking forward to winning more medals for NSW and Australia in the future to become table tennis masters. We love table tennis and dream of competing at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, even 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”

                                             2021 National Hopes Challenge

Vice President of TTNSW, Ted Davis said “Celine is a great talent in table tennis, and TTNSW is definitely cheering Celine with her two little sisters on as they achieve their goals. It’s an excellent opportunity for our nation, our next generation and aspiring athletes to keep pursuing their goals and making it to the Olympics.”

Ted said: “TTNSW hopes that Brisbane gets the Olympics, and it will be such a thrill for our top junior table tennis players like Celine and her sisters to aspire to home games.”

      Celine Chen, Yangzi Liu and Danni-Elle Townsend - 2021 TTA Tour - Sydney