YOUNGEST TABLE TENNIS OLYMPIAN - 12 YEARS OLD - HEND ZAZA

Growing up in war-ravaged Syria, 12 years old Hend Zaza becomes the youngest Olympian in 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and the youngest table tennis player ever in Olympic history.

Hend made history as the youngest Olympian since the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympic Games and the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games and is the fifth-youngest Olympian in modern Olympic Games ever.

Hend was born on 1 Jan 2009. As the youngest of four siblings, she first picked up her racket as a five year old in 2014. She is the only Syrian table tennis player to win national titles in four age groups: hopes, cadets, juniors and seniors at 11 years old.

In 2020 she defeated 42 year old Lebanon’s Mariana Sahakian - 2016 Rio Olympian, at the West Asia Olympic Table Tennis Qualification Tournament to secure her spot in 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Due to the ongoing civil war in Syria and a lack of funds, Hend practiced in a place with old tables, a concrete floor and frequent power outages. She only participated in three international competitions every year.

Hend had to face hardships. Even the paddles and balls were difficult to obtain. She hopes that she can become more powerful and make some gains in the 2024 Olympic Games.

It is reported that the Chinese Olympic Committee invited Zaza to train in China,

Vice President of TTNSW, Ted Davis, said “Fight for the dream, try hard regardless of the difficulties facing, and you will reach the goal. Hend Zara is a real model for all of our junior players. Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic Games, and we are looking forwarding to meeting Hend at 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.”

David Lee and Michael Li wish to gratefully acknowledge of Tokyo Organizing Committee of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.