(by: Jessie Xu)

“Jessie Xu’s Journey: Competing, Learning, and Embracing Chengdu’s Allure at the 2023 ITTF Mixed Team World Cup”  

Representing Team Canada at the 2023 ITTF Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu, China, was an absolute honor for me. This first new tournament introduced an innovative mixed team format, showcasing mixed doubles, women’s singles, men’s singles, and women’s/men’s doubles. Beyond being a simple competition, it promoted gender equality, embraced diversity, and emphasized the significance of collaboration and teamwork in sports. 

Featuring 18 invited teams, the tournament unfolded in two stages: an initial group phase followed by a round-robin 2nd stage, ultimately crowning the best team as the Team Champion. Teams were divided into four groups based on their seeding, with Team Canada placed in Group 4 alongside Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, and India. In the group stage, I had the honor of competing in two Women’s singles matches against Chen Szu-Yu from Chinese Taipei and Shin Yubin from Korea Republic. Additionally, alongside my teammate Ivy Liao, I contested two women’s doubles matches against Lee Zion/Jeon Jihee from Korea Republic and Wong XinRu/Zeng Jian from Singapore. 

In the group stage, Team Canada finished tied for 3rd place in a group of 5 with Singapore and India, narrowly missing the final stage by a single win. Eight teams progressed from the group stage to compete in the final stage, which eventually saw Team China clinching the title, an outcome that was hardly surprising. 

Despite our team not advancing to the 2nd stage, the experience was invaluable for me. Playing alongside some of the world’s finest players provided incredible insights into areas for my personal improvement and guidance for my future in the sport. Chengdu, renowned for its Sichuan cuisine and the adorable Giant Pandas, offered an array of cultural experiences. I was fortunate to enjoy delicious local food and visit adorable pandas. However, what truly left a lasting impression for me was the warmth and enthusiasm of the audience, deeply passionate about table tennis. Their remarkable hospitality and fervor for the sport have left me eager to revisit Chengdu and reconnect with the pandas once again. 

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