Nicholas Lum

Biography

Nicholas Lum, born in 2005 in Wantirna, Victoria, is a name to watch in the world of table tennis. His journey into the sport began at age seven, inspired by watching his dad play at the local club. By 2014, Nicholas was already making a mark in competitions, debuting at the Croydon Masters Junior Open under the wing of the Croydon & District Table Tennis Association.

For Nicholas, table tennis quickly became more than just a pastime. Over the years, he participated in over 200 events globally, racking up national titles and making waves on the international junior circuit. A standout moment came in 2019 when he clinched the men's cadet singles title at the Janos Molnar Tournament, becoming the first non-European to do so.

The year 2021 was particularly fruitful for Nicholas, who dominated the World Table Tennis Youth Contender series, winning gold in Italy and Slovakia, and silver in Hungary in the under-17 division. He also made his mark in the under-19 category, earning a bronze in Slovakia and breaking into the top 10 of the Youth World Rankings by early 2022.

Nicholas's hard work paid off with a call-up to represent Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Competing just after his 17th birthday, he became the second youngest Aussie table tennis player in Commonwealth Games history. While narrowly missing out on medals, his performances were a testament to his skill and potential.

In 2023, Nicholas continued to impress with victories at the Oceania Table Tennis Championship in men's doubles and the Australian Table Tennis Championship in the under-19 division. These achievements propelled him to a career-high world ranking of 31 and earned him the title of Australia's junior player of the year for the third consecutive time.

As he heads to Paris 2024, Nicholas will be proudly representing Australia as the nation's top-ranked men's singles player, ready to make his mark on the Olympic stage.