16.02.09 Hard work and dedication have paid off for a 12 year-old girl from California, Lily Zhang. In January, she was named as the “Coaches Selection” to fill the 4th position on the 2009 US Women’s Table Tennis Team. She will represent the United States in competition at the World Table Tennis Championship in Yokohama, Japan, beginning April 28th, 2009.

Lily, the daughter of Bob Zhang and Linda Liu of California, handed in a stellar performance at the US Nationals and Team Trials in December 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. She finished first in both the Cadet Girls and the Junior Girls Trials, and was selected to the US Women’s Team by a vote of the US National Team Coaches. Born in June of 1996, she is the youngest player to ever represent the United States as a National Team Member at a World’s Championship.

US Women’s Team Coach Doru Georghe acknowledged Lily’s historic achievement, as she is now the youngest player in US history to represent the United States in International Competition as a National Team member. “ Playing at this level is much pressure than she has encountered in International Junior play, but she is ready for this experience. She will benefit throughout her career for this opportunity now.”

Her proud parents echoed that thought. “Lily is very proud to have made all three teams, Cadet, Junior and Women’s. It inspires her to continue practicing hard, and she is very much looking forward to the opportunity in Japan.”

Lily is part of the prestigious junior program at Palo Alto Table Tennis Club headed up by Coach Dennis Davis. She also privately trains with Steven Wang. She first began play five years ago at the age of 7. Currently she uses the JOOLA ‘Fever’ blade with Express 1 rubber, max thickness, to support her aggressive ‘shakehand’ playing style. She says her ultimate goal is to be a participant in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. With the sort of hard work and good result she has shown to this point, she makes that ‘ultimate thrill’ more likely than not. JOOLA is proud to support this outstanding young athlete, whose work ethic and dedication to her dream serves to inspire us all!