Road to Rio: Table tennis Olympians to marry after Games

Sally Zhang and Chris Yan are engaged to be married, and will represent Australia at the Rio Olympics in the sport that drew them together.

Rio Olympics bound table tennis players Chris Yan and Sally Zhang Source: SBS

When Sally Zhang and Chris Yan arrived in Australia back in 2009, they shared a love of table tennis.

After meeting at a tournament that year, the then students began a journey that will take them all the way to the Olympics. 

For Chris, the decision to stay in Australia has paid rich dividends. 

"If I stayed in China I may never have had the chance to play in the Olympics," he told SBS.

Chris and Sally preparing for Rio Source: SBS

"It is very important [for me] because many people want to join the Olympics,  and its very difficult to do," Sally said.

"If I stayed in China I may never have had the chance to play in the Olympics."

With their wedding to take place not long after the Games, the pair are focused on trying to avoid contracting the Zika virus while in Brazil.

Chris works for a property development company and Sally works at a gift shop.  They must train at night for the Olympics, but its a sacrifice they are both happy to make.

"Prepare hard and work hard and I think the good result maybe will come," Chris told SBS.

The Olympics does not have mixed doubles as an event, and this has made the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games - and competing together - an important part of their plans. 

"Our long term goal is the Commonwealth Games in 2018," said Chris.