‘Fight for your dreams’ – Hend Zaza, 12, makes history at Tokyo Olympics

Syrian table tennis star overcame obstacles of civil war to reach Tokyo and become youngest Olympian since 1968

Waves of athletes flowed into the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony on Friday night, mostly led by some of their most experienced and accomplished champions in the world. Yet as the small six-person Syrian delegation entered the arena, there was a slight difference.

Carrying the flag was no longtime, instantly recognisable Olympian, but rather a 12-year-old table tennis player called Hend Zaza. By qualifying for Tokyo last year, she is the youngest competitor in these Tokyo Games, the youngest table tennis entrant of all time and the youngest overall Olympian since the 1968 Winter Olympics.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3wWfTLq