Table tennis is one of the rare sports where technique, joy, social connection, and extreme longevity can truly meet. Written by Bae Jun-yong, the Chosun Daily recently shared the remarkable comeback story of Yuet Yu Wa, a Chinese amateur player living in the United States who was born in 1924.
An 85-Year Break from the Court
Yuet Yu Wa first discovered table tennis at age eight in Shanghai, during an era when tables, rackets, and balls were rare, luxury items. Eventually, life took over, leading to an incredible 85-year break from the sport. She finally picked up a racket again for a deeply moving, family-oriented reason: she simply wanted to play and connect with her grandchildren.
The Masters Spirit
That simple family motivation completely relaunched her journey, eventually bringing her all the way back to the international competitive stage. At the 2026 World Masters Championships in Gangneung, South Korea, the 102-year-old athlete reunited with international friends she had met at previous events in Rome and built new connections across borders.
Supported closely by her family on and off the court, she still proudly considers herself an athlete, noting that the sport gives her renewed confidence to face life’s daily difficulties. Her sights are already set on her next major competitive goal: taking part in the 2028 World Masters in Istanbul, Turkey.
Key Takeaway: Your journey with table tennis doesn’t have an expiration date. Whether as a bridge between generations or a source of lifelong physical vitality, the sport remains wide open to anyone willing to pick up a racket.
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