Jian Fang Lay

Jian Fang Lay
Full nameJian Fang Lay-Hong
Nationality Australia
Born (1973-03-06) 6 March 1973 (age 51)
Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight58 kg (128 lb)
Medal record
Women's table tennis
Representing  Australia
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Manchester Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Manchester Team
Silver medal – second place 2006 Melbourne Team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2022 Birmingham Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Manchester Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Melbourne Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Glasgow Team
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Birmingham Team
Oceania Championships
Gold medal – first place 2000 Koumac Team
Gold medal – first place 2002 Suva Singles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Suva Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Suva Team
Gold medal – first place 2004 Whangarei Team
Gold medal – first place 2010 Auckland Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2010 Auckland Team
Silver medal – second place 2000 Koumac Singles
Silver medal – second place 2000 Koumac Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Suva Mixed Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2004 Whangarei Singles
Silver medal – second place 2004 Whangarei Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2004 Whangarei Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Koumac Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Auckland Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Auckland Mixed doubles

Jian Fang Lay-Hong (Chinese: 洪剑芳; pinyin: Hóng Jiànfāng; born 6 March 1973), is a right-handed Chinese-born Australian ladies table tennis player. She plays penhold, with a long pimple rubber at one side for use of attacking, blocking as well as chopping. She is currently number 1 female player in Australia, as well as number 141 in the world.[1]

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Lay-Hong became the first Australian woman to compete at 6 Olympic games. [2] She won her first 3 matches but then lost in Round 3 to Han Ying of Germany 4-0 so did not advance to the round of 16. She also competed with Michelle Bromley and Melissa Tapper in the women's team event but were defeated by Germany 3-0 in the round of 16.[3] Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics details the results in depth.

Born in Wenzhou, China, Lay moved to Melbourne in the early 1990s and eventually became a three-time Victorian champion as well as winning several titles in other Victorian tournaments. She was selected in the Australian national team in 1994 and participated in the Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympic Games. Lay also competed at the 2002, 2006 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she took home a total of four silver and three bronze medals.[4]

In June 2008, she returned to the position of number one female tennis table player in Victoria and Australia after staying at the number 3 spot since 2007. She was first qualified for the Beijing Olympics after beating Stephanie Sang at the Oceania Qualifiers at Nouméa, New Caledonia.

  1. ^ "LAY-HONG Jian Fang (AUS)". ITTF Database. International Table Tennis Federation.
  2. ^ "Australia's Jian Fang Lay is one of the best reasons to love the Tokyo Olympics". www.abc.net.au. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Silver for table tennis duo". heraldsun.com.au. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2019.