Born in 1988, Li Xiaoxia, a table tennis player who won gold in the women's singles at the 2012 London Olympics, is the youngest deputy of the Shandong Delegation.

"Some athletes who didn't perform well in the competition, could face a difficult life after retirement," Li said, "I hope that the government can come up with measures to guarantee their well-being [after retirement]."

Li added that as a professional athlete, she doesn't get many chances to engage with normal society. She has to participate in the closed trainings of the national team on March 10 and join in her first major competition this year, the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo, from 28 April to 5 May.

Speaking about the well-being of retired athletes, she expressed her concerns and said it would be very difficult for them to blend into society as they have been living in a limited world, with many of them not too highly educated.

"For those who take up sports with large fanbases such as table tennis and badminton, retire settlement will come relatively easier. However, for those who go into the less popular sports such as weightlifting and judo, retired life will prove very difficult," Li said.

Li concluded that she has been thinking about the settlements for retired athletes since she was elected to act as a deputy.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)