84-year-old table tennis player fearlessly chasing professional dream

Amid the ongoing Paris Olympics partially defined by Gen-Z athletes and emerging teen superstars, one Chinese amateur table tennis player is showing that there's a place on the world sporting arena for seniors too and age is never a shackle to dreams.

Jiang Zhaozhao, 84, brought back two golds in mixed doubles and men's doubles and one silver in men's singles at the 2024 World Table Tennis Masters Championships in Rome, Italy last month.

The tournament, divided into 11 age groups with the oldest age group over 90 years old, has attracted more than 6,000 table tennis masters from more than 100 countries and regions around the world to participate.

"This competition was quite tough, gathering 6,100 players from 109 countries (and regions). There were 164 players in the 80-year-old age group alone, many of whom were retirees from professional national teams. We almost lost in the men's doubles round of 16, but we relied on perseverance and confidence to snatch a victory out of defeat," he said.

Jiang had an indissoluble bond with table tennis when he was six and received a pair of rackets and a box of ping-pong balls as a birthday gift from his father. Despite not becoming a professional table tennis player, he never gave up his passion for the sport, accumulating a wall of trophies and medals over the years.

"I got all the medals after I retired. There are at least 300 medals. I may not win or get medals at some games, but I am not afraid of losing. Failure is good for you because I can learn from it. Even now, I'm not behind in the game," he said.

Jiang still insisted on practicing in a stadium in east China's Shaoxing City, doing two-hour sessions four to five times a week. Inspired by 61-year-old Olympian Ni Xialian, the octogenarian said he will continue to play table tennis until the age of 100.

"Because there is no age limit for international table tennis competitions, I am more confident that I can play until I am 100 years old," he said.

84-year-old table tennis player fearlessly chasing professional dream

Residents in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, are demanding that the government take action to combat the escalating gang violence.

The Caribbean country's security situation has deteriorated sharply in recent months, as escalating attacks against civilians are eroding the few areas that remain free from gang influence.

In February alone, the escalating violence in Port-au-Prince has forced nearly 60,000 people to flee their homes.

Currently, over 1 million people are displaced across Haiti -- a figure that has tripled in the past year.

Armed gangs are seizing control of more neighborhoods, raising fears that the capital could fall at any moment.

Half of the country's population is facing acute food shortages, and many displaced people have sought refuge in makeshift shelters, where access to food, water and medical care is severely limited.

Meanwhile, gang violence is intensifying, with kidnappings, extortion and killings plunging the country, especially the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, deeper into turmoil.

"We have nowhere to go. All of those sleeping at the gas station have nowhere to go. I just have one thing to say to the government: they have to do something for us," said Laurie Evanie Felix, a local vendor.

Inflation is soaring, basic services are collapsing, and food insecurity is worsening.

Amidst this turmoil, the rise in gang violence persists, even with the presence of UN-backed international forces led by Kenya.

As conditions worsen, millions are wondering when they will see any sustainable relief.

"Help! Government of my country! Help! We can't run anymore! Government of my country, do something," said Kettia Sylvain, another vendor.

Desperate Haitians urge gov't to take action amid escalating gang violence