Mar Irma Xiao: “i used to be told that I am not Spanish”
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Mar Irma Xiao does not deceive the covers but she is one of the greatest champions of Spanish sports in a women’s key so far in 2024. His outstanding season includes Olympic diploma in Paris with ochelvaro Robles in the mixed doubles method, The first Spanish table tennis in its entire history, two medals at the European Championships in Linz (Austria), which ended last Sunday, an individual bronze and a gold with Robles.
Two metals are no less important despite being of different color. “The medal in the mixed doubles was waiting for me because we were the third seed , and on the other hand, I never imagined that I would climb to the individual podium in such an important tournament“Mar Irma, who brings Marca from Linz, admits the historic bronze medal-the first for a Spaniard at the individual level at a continental championship-still hangs from her neck.
From now on you will see Maria who will enjoy playing ping-pong more because I will play more calmly, without putting too much pressure on myself. I needed a result like this on an individual level to gain confidence
The Spaniard makes a very positive reading of that second medal, a metal that changes its goals from here on out: “now I want to be in the top 50 – in the European quarterfinals I beat the Frenchwoman Jia Nan Yuan, 18 in the world. My best rating was 54 and after this bronze I will be close to this position when it is updated. If I manage to settle among the top 50 in the world, I hope to climb more positions in the near future”.
Dream of the world
“From now on you will see Maria who will enjoy ping-pong more because I will play more calmly, without putting too much pressure on myself. I needed a result like this on an individual level to gain confidence, ” adds the OCAM Cartagena player, who anyway It is very clear that it is in the mixed doubles, together with Robles-his partner since 2019-where he can realize his next dream.
Maria Xiao vs. Romania’s Bernadette Szucs during the semifinal match of the European Table Tennis Championships played in Linz, Austria.Anna selagi
“These achievements at the European Championship are comparable to reaching the quarterfinals in just a few matches, which is also incredible. Let’s see if we can scratch another medal at the World Cup-the immediate date is in May 2025 in Doha-this will be another level“, Says Xiao, who relies on training with Alvaro more often afterwards The return of the Huelva native to Spain-he signed last July with CajaSur Prego after 12 seasons in Germany -.
Can we beat the Chinese? In the male category there are more surprises and they are not unbeatable but women are more regular and rarely lose to a foreigner
“He lives in Granada now and I am in Los alcazares (Murcia) so we are close. So far we have only seen each other at tournaments and some union focus and I hope we can improve our relationship even more“, Explains Maria, who knows that on an individual level she is hitting a wall called China. “In the male category there are more surprises and they are not unbeatable but women are more regular and rarely lose to a foreigner”
Change of mentality
The success of Mar Irma will once again open the watermelon about the ‘Spanish language’ for some of our athletes despite the fact that she was born and lives in Spain. In fact, Maria chose to represent our country after a very interesting life journey.
Ochelvaro Robles takes Maria Xiao in his arms after winning the semifinal match of the European Championship in Linz.Anna selagi
He was born in Calella (Barcelona) in 1994 but When he was only ten months old, he went to live with his grandmother in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province In the south-west of China. Her parents, also professional rowers, moved to Madeira (Portugal), the place where the protagonist arrived at the age of two.
It’s true that you see me and I don’t look Spanish. It’s the truth, isn’t it? Hopefully we can change this mindset about how a Spaniard is supposed to be but it’s very complicated. I have no idea how to solve something like this
He was there until he was 17 and He came to represent the Portuguese state in several competitions in the lower category but finally chose Spain When he turned 18. Since then, OCAM Cartagena has been his home – although he spent a year in Lica Enea irundara-.
After more than ten years, She is used to dealing with comments about her Spanish: “I’m used to it. It’s true that you see me and I don’t look Spanish. It’s the truth, isn’t it? Hopefully we can change this mentality about how a Spaniard is supposed to be but it’s very complicated. I have no idea how to solve something like this.”
At the moment I don’t feel excluded and I’m completely integrated in Spain , but it’s true that when I was little , in Portugal, I felt like that because we already know what children are like
Maria, she will be missing more, does not give up her Chinese roots and this summer, after the Games, she went to visit her family in the Asian giant after four years of absence. His parents, with whom he speaks in Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese, They now live halfway between China, Los alcazares and Venezuela, a country where they have concluded an agreement with the table tennis federation.
“At the moment I don’t feel excluded and I’m completely integrated in Spain, but it’s true that when I was little, in Portugal, I felt that because we already know what children are like. “Look, there the Chinese go” I was listening to other classmates at school and at that moment it bothered me a little“, Recalls the multiple European medalist, a beautiful example of a country that should embrace its diversity rather than question it.
