The 12-year-old Syrian table tennis player arrived in slightly baggy shorts and grey T-shirt with her long hair in a green scrunchie and stood rather awkwardly while the umpires took their places. Hend Zaza, the youngest Olympian since 11-year-old Beatrice Hustiu competed in figure skating at the 1968 Winter Olympics, has struggled at times to find tables to play on amid the conflict which has ravaged her country. Here, in an preliminary round session on the first full morning of competition was the very essence of the Olympics. She was spotted playing the sport with her older brother in a public hall in central Syria's Hama, aged six. There was a five-minute delay for the table to be wiped of moisture with the score at 6-3 in the third.

Source: Daily Mail July 24, 2021 08:13 UTC