María Xiao

María Xiao Yao (born 19 May 1994) is a Spanish table tennis player. Born in Spain, she was raised in Portugal and initially represented Portugal before switching allegiances in 2012. She was Portugal's reserve player for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England, United Kingdom and represented Spain at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Early life Xiao was born on 19 May 1994 in Calella, Catalonia, Spain. Her parents, Xiao Daili and Yao Li, are Chinese emigrants and former professional table-tennis players that moved to Spain to seek better opportunities in the sports. Xiao was raised in Madeira, Portugal when her parents moved there.

Career In 2010, Xiao represented Portugal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore. She participated in the women's singles and the mixed doubles with Emilen Vanrossomme of Belgium. In the mixed doubles, Xiao and Vanrossomme finished runners-up in their group and advanced to round two where they lost to eventual bronze medalists Gu Yuting of China and Adem Hmam of Tunisia.

Xiao was Portugal's reserve player for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England, United Kingdom.

She represented Portugal before 2012 and Spain afterwards.

Xiao qualified to represent Spain at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan where she participated in the women's singles.