Jian Fang Lay named the 2021 Australian Senior Player of the Year

Australia’s record-breaking Olympian, Jian Fang Lay, has been awarded the Victor Barna Memorial Trophy as the Australian Senior Player of the Year.

The award is the highest honour for an Australian senior player and is awarded annually based on performance and results, combined with an athlete’s conduct.

Lay’s 2021 achievements centred around Tokyo 2020, where the evergreen right-hander competed in a record-equalling sixth Olympic Games for Australia. During the event, Lay equalled her best ever Olympic Games results by winning three matches, including defeating former European Champion Li Qian of Poland.

This is the sixth time Lay has won this prestigious award, which makes her the most awarded female player in Australian table tennis history.

TTA Chief Executive Officer Scott Houston paid tribute to Lay. 

“Jian is not only an icon of Australian table tennis but Australian sport. She continues to demonstrate her international competitiveness and is showing no signs of slowing down," he said. 

"TTA is proud of Jian and the way she flew the Aussie flag in Tokyo."

Upon receiving the award, Lay thanked those closest to her for their support.

“I'd like to thank my family, friends, and everyone who supported me – none of this would've been possible without them. I hope to inspire more people to watch and play table tennis."

The Victor Barna Memorial Trophy is proudly sponsored by long-term TTA partner, Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA). CGA Chief Executive Officer Craig Phillips was full of praise for Lay.

“Jian is a five-time Commonwealth Games representative and a seven-time Commonwealth Games medallist. CGA looks forward to Jian hopefully being part of the team in Birmingham next year where she will no doubt look to add to her medal collection."

Under normal circumstances, the assessment period for the award would have been from immediately after the 2020 National Championships, until completion of the 2021 National Championships. However, with COVID-19 causing the cancellation of the event last year and this year, TTA and the National Selection Panel determined that presenting the award at the end of 2021 was the most appropriate outcome.

Congratulations Jian, you are a most worthy recipient.