What's Happening in Broadmeadows, VIC…

Table tennis player Miao Miao, who lives in Broadmeadows, is in London competing at her fourth Olympic Games.

Born in China, Miao’s family moved to Australia when she was a teenager and now she competes for her adopted country at the Olympics and other international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games.

Her best finish at the Olympics came in her home country with a quarter-finals place in the doubles competition at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. She will not be competing in the doubles this year but hopes to do well in the singles event and get a good finish in the team competition.

Miao said international competitions were tough and she would be playing against the best players in the world, many of whom have had more professional training than she has.

Miao began playing table tennis at the age of nine and now, at the age of 31, she hopes that some of the young players she trains will follow her lead and represent Australia in future Olympic games. She has recently become a junior coach with Table Tennis Australia and says many of the youngsters she coaches are keen to reach the top of their game.

While most Broadmeadows residents will be watching the Olympics on television rather than in person, they can still show their support for Miao. Banner printing, using a favourite sport star’s name or team name, is a great way of showing support.

The Olympic table tennis competition takes place between Saturday, July 28 and Wednesday, August 8.