1. Overview
Tie Ya Na (帖雅娜Tiē YǎnàChinese; born May 13, 1979) is a prominent former table tennis player who represented Hong Kong. Originally from Zhengzhou, Henan, China, she began her career playing for mainland China, notably achieving a triple crown at the 2001 Summer Universiade. After emigrating to Hong Kong in 2002, she became a key member of the Hong Kong national team, participating in four Olympic Games starting from 2004. Throughout her distinguished career, Tie Ya Na earned two silver and seven bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships, alongside numerous other accolades including two silver medals at the 2006 Asian Games in singles and doubles competitions, and a gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in mixed doubles. Her highest world ranking was 3rd in July 2006.
2. Early Life and Background
Tie Ya Na's early life and formative years were spent in mainland China, where she first developed her skills in table tennis before transitioning to represent Hong Kong on the international stage.
2.1. Birth and Origin
Tie Ya Na was born on May 13, 1979, in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. She initially held Chinese nationality and began her table tennis training in her home country.
2.2. Transition to Hong Kong
Tie Ya Na started playing table tennis at the age of seven. In 1990, she joined the Zhengzhou team, and by 1995, she was selected for China's national second team. She enrolled in East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai in 1997. She competed for China in the Universiade, where she notably defeated Zhang Yining to win a championship in 2001. After graduating, she emigrated to Hong Kong in 2002 and began representing the Hong Kong table tennis team in international competitions that same year.
3. Table Tennis Career
Tie Ya Na's professional table tennis career is marked by significant achievements and a steady progression from her early days in China to becoming a celebrated international player for Hong Kong.
3.1. Early Career in China
Tie Ya Na's journey in table tennis began at a young age, starting at seven. Her talent quickly became apparent, leading her to join the Zhengzhou team in 1990. By 1995, her dedication and skill earned her a spot on China's national second team. In 1997, she furthered her academic and athletic pursuits by enrolling in the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai. A notable highlight of her early career was her victory at the 2001 Universiade held in Beijing, where she defeated the formidable Zhang Yining to claim the title.
3.2. International Career for Hong Kong
Following her graduation, Tie Ya Na transitioned to represent Hong Kong, beginning her international career for the Special Administrative Region in 2002. She quickly established herself as a key player for the Hong Kong table tennis team, consistently competing at the highest levels of international competition and contributing significantly to the team's successes.
3.3. Major Tournament Achievements
Tie Ya Na's career is distinguished by a comprehensive record of achievements across various major international table tennis tournaments, showcasing her consistent performance and competitive spirit.
3.3.1. Olympic Games
Tie Ya Na participated in four Olympic Games, starting with the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. In both the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, she reached the quarter-finals in the singles event. In the team competitions, she helped the Hong Kong team secure 5th place at both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
3.3.2. World Table Tennis Championships
Tie Ya Na has an impressive record at the World Table Tennis Championships, securing multiple medals in various events.
In the team events, she won two silver medals: at the 2004 Championships in Doha and the 2006 Championships in Bremen. She also earned bronze medals with the team at the 2008 Championships in Guangzhou, the 2012 Championships in Dortmund, and the 2014 Championships in Tokyo.
In individual events, Tie Ya Na achieved significant success in doubles. She won bronze medals in women's doubles at the 2005 Championships in Shanghai, the 2009 Championships in Yokohama, and the 2011 Championships in Rotterdam. Additionally, she secured a bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 2007 Championships in Zagreb. In singles, she reached the round of 16 at the 2003, 2005, and 2011 World Championships. During the 2009 World Table Tennis Championships, she was defeated by Kasumi Ishikawa.
3.3.3. Table Tennis World Cup
Tie Ya Na made 11 appearances at the Table Tennis World Cup. In the singles event, her best result was a runner-up finish in 2008 in Kuala Lumpur. She also secured third place in singles at the 2002 Singapore, 2004 Hangzhou, and 2011 Singapore World Cups. In the Table Tennis World Team Cup, she contributed to Hong Kong's third-place finishes in 2007, 2009, and 2013.
3.3.4. ITTF Pro Tour
Tie Ya Na had a highly successful run on the ITTF Pro Tour, securing numerous titles in both singles and doubles.
- Singles Titles (8):
- 2002 Korea Open
- 2003 Brazil Open
- 2004 Russian Open
- 2004 Croatian Open
- 2006 Korea Open
- 2006 Chinese Taipei Open
- 2007 Brazil Open
- 2010 Hungarian Open
- Singles Runner-up (2):
- 2005 USA Open
- 2005 Swedish Open
- Women's Doubles Titles (14):
- 2005 Russian Open
- 2005 Slovenian Open
- 2005 Croatian Open
- 2005 Chile Open
- 2005 USA Open
- 2005 German Open
- 2005 Swedish Open
- 2006 Korea Open
- 2006 Japan Open
- 2007 Brazil Open
- 2007 Chile Open
- 2008 Chile Open
- 2008 China (Shanghai) Open
- 2011 Spain Open
- Women's Doubles Runner-up (8):
- 2002 Italian Open
- 2003 Danish Open
- 2006 Qatar Open
- 2006 Singapore Open
- 2007 Qatar Open
- 2007 Austrian Open
- 2009 Kuwait Open
- 2009 Korea Open
She made 9 appearances in the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals. In singles, she reached the semi-finals in 2005. In women's doubles, she was a runner-up in 2009 and 2010, and reached the semi-finals in 2004, 2007, and 2008.
3.3.5. Asian Games
Tie Ya Na achieved significant success at the Asian Games. At the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, she won a gold medal in mixed doubles. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, she secured two silver medals, one in the women's singles event and another in the women's doubles competition.
3.3.6. Asian Table Tennis Championships
At the Asian Table Tennis Championships, Tie Ya Na's achievements include:
- Team Event: Gold medal in 2005, and a silver medal in 2003.
- Mixed Doubles: Runner-up in 2007, and reached the semi-finals in 2003.
- Singles: Reached the semi-finals in 2003.
- Women's Doubles: Reached the semi-finals in 2003, 2005, and 2007.
3.3.7. Asian Cup
In the Asian Cup Table Tennis Tournament, Tie Ya Na won the title in 2004. She also secured third place finishes in both 2003 and 2005.
3.4. Playing Style
Tie Ya Na is a right-handed player who utilizes the shakehand grip. Her playing style is characterized by a strong front court offensive and defensive approach. While she is known for her strength on both sides of the table, a notable weakness identified in her game was in the forehand middle area. For instance, during the 2004 Athens Olympics, Seiya Takagi, the then-Japanese women's coach, specifically instructed Ai Fukuhara to target this weakness. Her equipment includes a Zhang Jike racket and Tenergy 80 rubber on both the forehand and backhand sides.
4. Personal Life
Beyond her professional career, Tie Ya Na has also established a family life.
4.1. Marriage
Tie Ya Na is married to fellow table tennis player Tang Peng, who also represents Hong Kong in international competitions.
5. Assessment
Tie Ya Na is widely recognized for her significant contributions to table tennis, particularly as a leading player for Hong Kong. Her career highlights include reaching a career-high world ranking of 3rd in July 2006. As of December 2016, her ranking was 16th, reflecting her long and impactful presence in the sport. Her numerous medals at World Championships, Asian Games, and consistent performance on the ITTF Pro Tour solidify her legacy as one of Hong Kong's most successful table tennis athletes.