SINGAPORE – National table tennis player Wong Xin Ru does not do things in halves. In 2021, she put her studies on hold to try and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But with the national women’s team failing to secure a spot at the Games for the first time, she decided on July 9 to call time on her professional career.
The 22-year-old, who will be enrolling in the National University of Singapore (NUS) in August, told The Straits Times that she would rather concentrate on one thing, instead of spreading herself too thin.
Wong, who will be pursuing a degree at the NUS College of Humanities and Sciences, said: “While the university does offer support for athletes, I feel like if I can’t commit to my current six-hour-a-day training plan, I don’t see a possibility of me being better than what I am now. So I would rather focus on my studies.”
In her Instagram post, the Singapore Sports School alumna said she is grateful to the fans who have cheered for her and will cherish the memories of competing.
Wong took up table tennis full time in 2021, while waiting for graduation from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
A year later, she won two titles with the national team, clinching the mixed doubles gold at the delayed Hanoi SEA Games with Koen Pang and was part of the women’s team who prevailed at the Commonwealth Games.
She also bagged two SEA Games silvers and two joint-bronzes in the women’s doubles and women’s team over three editions from 2019 to 2023.
Wong said her biggest achievements included winning the SEA Games mixed doubles gold with Pang – the Singaporean pair are ranked world No. 26 – and reaching the mixed doubles finals of the WTT Feeder Varazdin and WTT Feeder Havirov in April.
Adding that she wants to make way for a younger generation of players such as Ser Lin Qian, 18, and Loy Ming Ying, 14, Wong also urged Singaporeans to get behind the national team.
When asked about Wong’s retirement, coach Jing Junhong said that it was a bit of a pity.
She said: “I believe she has her own life goals and plans, so I wish her well and hope she takes care of herself. I hope she’s made many good memories. She’s shed a lot of sweat and tears and achieved some decent results. I respect her decision and hope she will continue to grow.”
The women’s national team currently consist of Zeng Jian, Zhou Jingyi, Zhang Wanling and Ser. Zeng and Zhou will represent Singapore at the July 26-Aug 11 Paris Olympics.
Jing added: “We still have a few young talent like Lin Qian who have shown good skills, but they’re still students. Xin Ru’s retirement means that she needs to slowly grow and take on more responsibility within the team.
“To be an athlete at this level in Singapore long term is not an easy feat. Xin Ru already had some pressure from her family, so she gave herself a timeline to accomplish her goals. That timeline is up and she has achieved a lot and narrowly missed out on the Olympics, which is a pity.
“But I don’t think she should have any regrets, she gave it her all.”
