FORMER Olympic table tennis player Ian Lariba passed away on Sunday morning, September 2, after years of battling against leukemia. She was 23.

In a statement, the Philippine Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) said it heavily mourns for the loss of the Filipina table tennis star.

PTTF president Ting Ledesma noted that Lariba was the first ever Filipina table tennis Olympian and arguably the greatest player in her field.

She represented the Philippines in international tournaments, including the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Lariba won all the tournaments she joined at a very young age.

During her UAAP years, she never lost a single match which eventually led her to winning the Athlete of the Year honors twice while constantly making it in the dean’s list of the De La Salle University.

“From qualifying to the Olympics to battling cancer, she was a fighter and true table tennis ambassador. She put Philippine table tennis in newspapers, television and social media outfits -- a sport which was not given much importance before in our country,” said in the PTTF statement.

With Lariba’s loss, the federation as well as the Philippine Sports Commission have sent their deepest sympathies and prayers to the family of the Olympian.

Messages of comfort from table tennis community also flooded over the internet.