A fresh start

In February 2024, Zhu acquired residency in China's Macao Special Administrative Region through a talent admission program and began representing Macao in international competitions.

"Many people asked me why I went to Macao," she said. "My answer is simple — if I win a championship representing Macao, they'll still play the national anthem of the People's Republic of China. I'm still fighting for my country."

Her comeback began at the WTT Champions Macao in September 2024. After a strong opening match, she faced Team China second seed Wang Manyu — and lost.

But instead of disappointment, the defeat brought clarity. "I couldn't even see the ball clearly when Manyu hit it," she admitted with a laugh. "At that point, I figured I was maybe around top-50 in the world."

From that humble recalibration, Zhu began to "gather her strength slowly". It paid off — just months later, she won the WTT United States Smash, a victory rich with symbolism and sweat.

On Sept 9, 2024, exactly three years after her forced retirement, she returned to the circuit with zero ranking points. A year later, she had amassed 3,940 of them, climbed to world No 6, and claimed a major international title — defeating several higher-ranked players, including Wang Manyu herself.

"Today is a perfect dream," she posted on social media after that triumph. "It's a dream of bravery, wisdom, and resilience. The meaning of life is to keep moving forward courageously, even after walking alone through joy and sorrow."

Looking back, Zhu summed up her comeback year with three words: "surprise, courage, and passion".

Zhu laughed when reflecting on how far she's come. "After I retired, I never picked up a paddle — I never thought I could get back to this level again. Old friends who see me now say I look in great form, and I just tell them, it's because I trained too hard back then."

Zhu's rebirth was not without its trials. Her comeback year was also marked by controversy and cyberbullying that tested her in new ways. In July, online rumors falsely accused her of "owing money", thrusting her into a storm of online vitriol.

"I'm not someone who likes direct confrontation," she said. "But this incident left me with psychological scars. It drained me emotionally and hit the most fragile part of my heart."

Zhu had to seek help from a psychologist. "The doctor told me it's normal — people have emotions, and it's a natural response," she said. "So I chose to speak out on social media. I believe the law will clear my name and deliver justice."

It was another lesson in courage — one that extended beyond the table.

"As a professional athlete, not being able to compete in the Olympics is my greatest regret," Zhu reflected. "But if you take away that title — as just Zhu Yuling the person — I have no regrets in life."

Zhu now moves fluidly between her different roles, each revealing a different facet of who she is. "I give my all to every identity," she said. "After seeing the world beyond table tennis, I realized the sport is no longer my only world. As my horizons expanded, table tennis became just one part of a much bigger life."

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn