Throughout Sun and Ni's match, the CCTV commentators kept referring to Ni as "Master Ni" instead of using her full name to show respect for her contribution to China's table tennis at her career peak and also for her enduring efforts in promoting the sport in Europe and around the world.

I truly appreciate the shared slogan of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics "Games wide Open". To me, it means "wide open" not only for any competitor who embodies the Olympic spirit but also for any performance or choice made by an Olympian.

Not representing China though, Ni is still winning her home country's hearts and, I believe, will always be cherished by China and the sport because the Olympics and its fans are increasingly inclusive.