Liu Jia

Liu Jia

Liu Jia in Vienna, Austria in 2008
Personal information
Full name Liu Jia
Nickname(s) Susi
Nationality  Austria
Residence Linz, Austria
Born (1982-02-16) 16 February 1982
Beijing, China
Playing style Shakehand
Equipment(s) Tibhar
Highest ranking 9 (2005, 2014)[1]
Current ranking 25 (August 2016)
Club Linz AG Froschberg
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight 46 kg (101 lb; 7.2 st)
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Liu.

Liu Jia (Chinese: 刘佳; born 16 February 1982 in Beijing, China) is a female Chinese-born table tennis player who now represents Austria.

Early life

From 1992 to 1995 Liu attended Shischa Sporting High School in Beijing. Afterwards she became a member of professional club Shian Nuntan, where she played with Zhang Yining. Despite Liu's successes as a Cadet and Junior, competition within the Chinese team was strong and prospects for a future international career were dim. Instead of following a call to Japan, Liu travelled to Austria when the opportunity arose to play for Austrian team Linz AG Froschberg.

She arrived in March 1997 without speaking either German or English, but quickly learned German within the year that she settled in Austria. She won the 1st International Austrian Youth Championships soon after her arrival. On 16 February 1998, her sixteenth birthday, she became an Austrian citizen and a member of the Austrian table tennis squad. Husband David Arvidsson is an international Danish table tennis player.

Career

Liu continued her success on youth level by taking Gold in the Singles, Doubles and Mixed competition at the 1998 European Youth Championships in Norcia. In 1999, she once again claimed the Singles and Mixed titles in Frydek-Mistek.

She competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, reaching the third round of the singles competition in each of them. She also competed in the team competition in Beijing. In May 2011, she qualified for her fourth Olympic attendance in the 2012 London Olympics where she was knocked out in the third round.[2][3]

She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She was defeated in the fourth round by Feng Tianwei of Singapore.[4] She also competed in the women's team event, but the Austrian team was defeated by Japan in the quarterfinals.[5] Liu was the flag bearer for Austria during the Parade of Nations.[6]

Results

European Championships

World Championships

Pro Tour

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ittf.com/ittf_ranking/world_ranking_per_name.asp?Siniors=1&Player_ID=105469 ITTF World Ranking (accessed 2011-11-01).
  2. ↑ http://www.ittf.com/Stories/pictures/qualified_players_london_m.pdf Players qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games (accessed 2011-11-01).
  3. ↑ http://www.olympic.org/olympic-results/london-2012/table-tennis/singles-w
  4. ↑ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  5. ↑ "Rio 2016". Rio 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  6. ↑ "The Flagbearers for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony". 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  7. ↑ http://www.ittf.com/ittf_stats/All_events3.asp?ID=4287&NAMES=LIU+Jia+%28AUT%29&Assoc1=AUT&Assoc=&s_Gender=&s_Names=liu+jia& ITTF Statistics – Liu Jia (accessed November 1, 2011).

External links

Olympic Games
Preceded by
Markus Rogan		 Flagbearer for  Austria
Rio de Janeiro 2016 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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