Tie Yana showed she can still be a force to be reckoned with if she qualifies for her fourth Olympics this summer after winning the ITTF World Tour, Hungarian Open, Major Series held on 20 - 24 January in Budapest, Hungary.

The 36-year-old veteran, seeded 15, turned the clock back with an impressive victory in Budapest, edging out the 10th seed Yang Ha-eun of South Korea in a seven-game marathon 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9.

It was Tie’s ninth ITTF World Tour title, but her first since 2010, coincidentally also at the Hungarian Open. It was the longest gap between titles on the tour.

"I'm so pleased to have won as this competition took a great deal out of me," said Tie, who had lost to Yang in their most recent meeting.

"Before the tournament I had not been well, so this victory gives me extra pleasure. It was a tight match, she fought and surprised me many times."

Tie’s first Olympics was Athens 2004, and she hopes the Hungary win shows she still has what it takes to match the best.

"The Olympic Games is always the biggest target," she said. "No matter how many times you have been to the Olympics, you still want to go there one more time.

"This gold medal has proved I can still play at the highest level. Although my fitness cannot compare with my younger days, I have been working extremely hard on improving it, especially since the birth of my son in late 2014.

"I always want to set an example for my son that whatever I do, I will do to the best of my ability. It would be great if my son can see me on television competing at the Rio Olympics.

"I have been the number one in the squad previously but as I grow older, there will be new faces challenging my position."

It was a good tournament for Hong Kong players, with Tie’s title among five ranking finishes 1 silver and 3 bronze medals for the squad.

Doo Hoi-kem at 19 representing the next generation from Tie reached the women’s singles semi-finals, where Yang beat her in seven games. And Tie’s singles win was also a bit of revenge over Yang, who had earlier beaten her and Jiang Hua Jun in the doubles final.

In the Under-21 events, Doo reached the semi-finals of the women’s tournament and Ho Kwan-kit the men’s.

The following week at the Berlin Open, there was further success for Hong Kong’s players. Ho and Tang Peng teamed up to reach the final of the men’s doubles, and got a silver medal while Lee Ho-ching reached the semis of the women’s singles, and Tie and Jiang reached the semis of the women’s doubles. Both got bronze medals.

Shuttlers Chau Hoi-wah and Lee Chun-hei won bronze at the VICTOR Far East Malaysia Masters held on 19 - 24 January in Penang, Malaysia.