World's top table tennis players rally behind Ian Lariba in fight against leukemia

TOP table tennis players expressed their support to Ian Lariba in her battle against leukemia.

A handful of players at the World Table Tennis Championship in Dusseldorf, including world No. 2 Fan Zhendong and No. 3 Xu Xin, took time out to be part of a video message for the Filipina Olympian.

Elizabeta Samara of Romania and Petrissa Solja of host country Germany also sent Lariba messages through the video posted on the Facebook account of the International Table Tennis Federation.

[See Filipino Olympian Ian Lariba diagnosed with leukemia]

The 22-year-old Lariba, who competed in the Rio Olympics, was set to see action in the world meet before being diagnosed with the disease.

The video ended with the message “Table Tennis Family stands behind Ian lariba.”

The ITTF is also using the hashtag #SupportLariba on its social media accounts.