Kid at play

Sun had an instant connection with table tennis as a child — it was the sound of the bouncing ball that initially drew her to the game.

"My parents bought me my first paddle for just a few yuan in a nearby sports shop. I couldn't even hold the paddle very well as my hand was too tiny, and I could just use it to juggle the ball," said Sun.

"At first it was my parents who wanted me to play. But I was very sensitive to the sound of the ball hitting the ground. I really liked that kind of sound.

"They suggested I give it a try. After a few days, I found that I really enjoyed it. And when I started playing matches, I felt I had some talent."

As her training became more serious, Sun admits that she sometimes found the sessions boring, and the tears would even flow if she was criticized by a coach.

Looking back on those early days, Sun believes they have forged her mental fortitude.

In 2015, Sun stepped into the training base of the national team for the first time as a reserve team member. She still remembers the excitement of seeing her Team China idols for the first time.

"Everything was very new to me then, because I had just been called up to the national team," she said. "I saw Li Xiaoxia and Ding Ning training there. But if you're talking about idols, Zhang Yining is my role model," said Sun.

Zhang is certainly a legend of the sport. Nicknamed "the Devil", fans see similarities between the four-time Olympic champion and Sun. Hence, they have dubbed Sun "the Little Devil". "When I was 8, I watched Zhang Yining on TV playing a women's singles final against Wang Nan. I hope one day I can reach her level and become a world-class athlete like her," said Sun.

"Her performances in competitions and what she demands of herself in training are worth emulating, not just by me but by all young athletes.

"It will take a long time and a lot of effort to become a top player like Zhang Yining."

Sun is cherishing her time in the national team, and credits the support and help from the squad as key factors in her rise.

"Team China is so unified. It really is a great honor for me to be in the team. I've achieved some things, but these feats are inseparable from the efforts of every team member, including the support, medical and coaching staff, as well as my training teammates," she said.

"Few players get to stand on the winner's rostrum, but the gold medal belongs to the whole team. It is a team of unity, pride and responsibility."