Upbeat Lariba looks at early Olympics loss as learning experience

MANILA, Philippines – Filipina Olympian Ian Lariba’s dream of winning a medal in the women’s singles competition of the table tennis event at the 2016 Rio Games came to an end following a quick defeat to Xing Han of Congo on Saturday, August 6, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The match was closer than the final score indicates, but Lariba was unable to win a game, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7, in the 33-minute contest.

But even with the defeat in the preliminary round meaning Lariba has been eliminated, the 21-year-old Cagayan De Oro native is still upbeat and prefers to look at what transpired as a “learning experience.”

Lariba also sees a positive in that although she wasn’t able to win a game, she also wasn’t easily defeated.

“Lagi lang kami dikit actually per [game], pero duon ako nabibitin o nadadali, pag end game na,” she told Rappler via telephone after the match.

(We were battling close in each game, but I was falling short late.)

“Iba talaga yung feeling pag nasa gitna na. Yun yung natutunan ko,” she added.

(The feeling is really different when you’re there in the middle of the match. That’s what I learned.)

Lariba, who gave up 27 points lost on her own serve, also rued the errors she committed in the tight match where she came in ranked number 325 against an opponent ranked number 161. 

Although the De La Salle University standout displayed impressive defense against Xing’s powerful attacks, Lariba’s errors cost dearly – especially in the second game where she went ahead 3-0 early.

“Pag naka attack ako, nakakalamang ako. Yung mga unforced errors. Minsan, ako una nagkakamali,” she said.

(Whenever I’d attack, I’d take the lead. It was the unforced errors. Sometimes, I was the first to make a mistake.)

Nonetheless, Lariba says that, “Definitely I enjoyed when I was inside the court. Sayang, pero at least this is something we can start over again.

“This will definitely be a learning experience for me,” added the flag bearer of the Philippines during the Olympics’ opening ceremony, “and marami talaga ako natutunan na mas magagamit ko pa (and there’s a lot more I learned that I can use) in the future. There will always be a reason for this…”

Lariba, who’s is in the process of submitting the final requirements for her thesis and close to graduating with a finance degree in La Salle, says her main focus after returning from Rio will be to pass all requirements for her to graduate.

With regards to table tennis, Lariba plans to participate more in international matches to better prepare her in case she gets to go back to the Olympics in the future.

“When I get back (to the Philippines),” she said. “I’ll just really finish first my studies and then we’ll see. We’ll go back for SEA Games or for some international competitions that may come. So more exposures and experiences to come pa.” – Rappler.com