Wang living dream to play Olympic table tennis

By TERRY JONES -- Edmonton Sun
 SYDNEY -- Harbin, China, is Edmonton's official twin city.

 What good is having a twin city in a country most Edmontonians will never visit?

 Well, they've sent us some sensational visiting ice sculptors over the years. And they've given us one Olympian: Wen Xiao Wang.

 "In 1986, my father came to Edmonton on an exchange program to teach table tennis,'' she said.

 "In 1994, he comes back to live and coach.

 "I came in 1997. Now I am here at the Olympics for Canada and I am proud for myself and hope the Canadian people are proud of me.''

 Li Peng Wang is pretty proud.

 "It's hard to tell you how happy she is,'' said dad. "When she qualified, she spent one night not sleeping.

 "Many, many people dream. Many, many people play table tennis. Not so many people go to the Olympics.

 "She's very, very excited. Me, too.''

 The five-foot-two, 110-pound 19-year-old was introduced to the game by her dad as an eight-year-old and she made it her sport for good when she was 13 despite the fact that her mother was a top middle-distance runner for China and won the bronze medal in the 800m at the 1974 Asian Games.

 This girl is refreshingly honest.

 Don't expect her to win any medal, she says.

 "Not now. Maybe next time," she says. "I hope I get experience which makes me better for next time.

 "I don't have that much of a chance.''

 She plans to savour ever second of her Olympics.

 "I'm so excited," said the girl who will march in the opening ceremonies and begin play in doubles the next day. Singles comes later in the Olympics.

 She says maybe she can do well in doubles teamed with Chris Xu of Vancouver.

 "There's a better chance in doubles than in singles. In doubles anything can happen. Maybe we can make something happen.''

 Ask her about singles and she makes you laugh.

 "I hope I don't play an Asian," she says.

 China and South Korea are the powers.

 Whatever happens, this is a young lady who is thrilled to be having the Olympic experience.

 "There is no pressure for me, but I am still a little nervous. Since I was a little girl in China, I dreamed I'd go to the Olympics.

 "Now I am here. I can't believe it. I think I am still dreaming."