At 73, when most careers are long behind them, Wang Qi proved that age is just a number.
Decked in Fiji blue, the former coach from the People’s Republic of China, made his debut at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships, stealing the spotlight at the 2026 edition, not just for his skills but also his spirit.
“I am very, very happy to be here. I value the chance,” Wang told Olympics.com at the tournament in London, England.
“I was born in China… So many [table tennis] players there, but no chance [for most],” he said, highlighting the nation’s dominance of table tennis.
“I am lucky.”
Wang’s table tennis journey began in his home country at the age of seven, when a visit to his elder sister’s university sparked his curiosity and saw him pick up a paddle for the first time.
Two years later, he enrolled in junior training. But just as he began to dream of soaring in the sport, his wings were clipped as the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) forced him to put his promising career on hold.
After a long-awaited return, Wang stepped away from playing and turned to coaching, playing a role in the early development of Ma Lin, who went on to win two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games.
In 2001, life took an unexpected turn for Wang, as his family migrated to Fiji, opening doors he had never imagined.
“I beat everyone I played there; in Fiji, [the competition] was very easy,” Wang recalled. “So, Fiji asked me to coach the team from 2002. I was still playing while coaching them.
“Before the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the Fiji government granted me special citizenship [and from there on] I played many tournaments for Fiji.”
Defeats to Canada, Cameroon, and Belgium brought Team Fiji’s campaign at the London finals to an end in the opening stage, but they did little to dampen Wang’s morale.
Asked how his journey might inspire others to take up the sport, regardless of age, he said: “Table tennis is very good… not just for competing.
“Here, everyone – young or old – is training with confidence.”
What’s next on Wang’s list of adventures? Continuing to raise the profile and standard of table tennis in Fiji and beyond.
“The level of table tennis in the Pacific Islands area is low. We need some people to push it [higher],” he said.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/table-tennis-wang-qi-73-year-old-world-team-championships-debut-fiji-2026
