For Australia's Junjian 'Jessy' Chen, the journey to table tennis began like a nightmare. Born in China, Chen and his family moved to the the Solomon Islands in his youth. Although the archipelago appeared paradisiacal, life there could be hellish for Chinese immigrants, often the targets of violence. Fifteen years ago, machete-wielding intruders attacked Chen and his family in their home. "Someone just broke into the house to do a robbery," recalls Chen. "I heard noises outside, and when I came back into the house, someone attacked me on the neck and the back. I fell down and after three days I woke up in the hospital." The gruesome attack left Chen paralyzed. In need of more advanced medical attention, Chen relocated to Australia, where he spent a year in the hospital. He was then discharged to the Royal Rehabilitation Centre, where Chen not only learned English but picked up table tennis. "I remember at the beginning, they let me learn table tennis," remembers Chen. "It was pretty hard for me because my body was so weak. It felt good to try something out as well, so when I got better at table tennis, it became more than something to become stronger." Chen is now a strong candidate for Australia's Paralympic team. He has his sights set on playing in the Tokyo Paralympics next summer. In the midst of training for a gold medal run, however, Chen always finds the time to give back. Every week, he returns to the Royal Rehabilitation Centre to play with others going through a hell he knows all too well. "I just went in one day to let them know about table tennis, so that maybe people going back home could find something to do," explains Chen. "I just want to help people. I know how everyone there would be feeling in the hospital, but maybe through table tennis, they can feel joy and hope, like I did." From its nightmarish beginnings, Jessy Chen's table tennis journey has helped him and many others follow their dreams.
