Why did China and the United States win the first mixed doubles in the World Table Tennis Championships？
China news agency, Beijing, November 30 th: Why did China and the United States win the first mixed doubles in the World Table Tennis Championships?
Author Xu Huangguan
On November 29th, Beijing time, a Chinese-American mixed doubles team won the bronze medal at the World Table Tennis Championships held in Houston, USA. It coincides with the 50th anniversary of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" between China and the United States, and the first group of mixed doubles between China and the United States has attracted people’s attention.
On November 28th, 2021, Lin Gaoyuan (China) (left)/Zhang An (USA) (right), a multinational combination of China and the United States, won the bronze medal in the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, USA. The picture shows the award ceremony. China News Service reporter Liu Guanguan photo
Table tennis is China’s "national sport", which was popularized in mainland China in 1950s. In 1959, after Rong Guotuan won the gold medal at the World Table Tennis Championships in Dortmund, table tennis, which bears the pride and glory of China people, became more and more popular. The "ping-pong diplomacy" that followed was even more popular.
On November 22, 2021, two pairs of Chinese and American transnational mixed doubles teams prepared for the World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, USA, practiced together. China News Service reporter Liu Guanguan photo
In April, 1971, China’s Zhuang Zedong shook hands with American athlete Cohen. Under the guidance of the political wisdom and diplomatic art of the leaders of the two countries, the small ball turned the big ball and the relationship between big countries broke the ice. After the exchange of visits between Chinese and American players, the upsurge of the two places, the American people holding up signs to write "understanding, friendship and peace", has made many witnesses unforgettable.
In April, 2021, Shanghai, ITTF Museum and China Table Tennis Museum held "Shanghai Theme Exhibition to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of China-US Table Tennis Diplomacy". China News Service reporter Tang Yanjun photo
The interconnection between the nation and the world. Table tennis originated in the west. At the end of 19th century, tennis was popular in Europe, but due to the limitation of venue and weather, British people began to explore moving tennis indoors. Gradually, the "Table tennis" was born, with the table as the field and the wooden board as the hollow ball. This sport, which is naturally simple and entertaining, is named "Ping-pong" in Chinese because of its crisp and smooth hitting sound.
In March 2006, in order to commemorate the 35th anniversary of China-US ping-pong diplomacy, an American ping-pong delegation visiting China at the invitation of the China Table Tennis Association came to Shanghai to relive the good past with the athletes who participated in China-US ping-pong diplomacy that year. The picture shows Zhuang Zedong, a famous table tennis player in China, with Tim Bogan, an American player. China News Service reporter Tang Yanjun photo
Later, Ivor Montagu, the "father of table tennis" and the first president of ITTF, injected the connotation of friendship, peace, respect and equality into table tennis. During World War II, table tennis was listed as aid materials of the Red Cross and entered the prison camp. The new World Table Tennis Championships after the war urged the Soviet Union to participate. In 1952, when montague visited China, the ITTF became one of the first international organizations to open its doors to New China, and the World Table Tennis Championships became the first international sports event in the world to hand over the hosting rights to African and Asian cities.
In April 2021, activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of China-US "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" were held in Beijing. Former US Secretary of State Kissinger delivered a speech by video. China News Service reporter Zhang Xinglong photo
It can be seen that if sports itself has the connotation of pursuing equality and unity, then table tennis is a "special" contained in "universality". Because of its unique origin, character and memory, it is even more condensed with the value of crossing obstacles, creating exchanges, promoting understanding and conveying friendship.
In July, 2011, the China delegation came to the Nixon Presidential Library in California, USA, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ping-pong diplomacy with American representatives. The picture shows Liang Geliang and George Brethwaite reliving the historical moment when they met for the first time in the China-US table tennis friendly match. China News Service reporter Mao Jianjun photo
This time, it is the first time for the World Table Tennis Championships to come to America. The first group of transnational mixed doubles teams in China and the United States achieved good results, and the American table tennis team won the World Table Tennis Championship medal for the first time in 62 years, which delighted table tennis lovers, sports circles and even people of both countries who supported Sino-US friendship.
In April, 2021, a series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of China-US table tennis diplomacy were held at the International Table Tennis Federation Museum and the China Table Tennis Museum. The picture shows Chinese and American players participating in the table tennis friendly match. China News Service reporter Tang Yanjun photo
The ingenious combination of mixed doubles between China and the United States allows people to relive their historical experience and wisdom, and once again tells the world the significance and achievements of breaking the barrier through table tennis, a highly symbolic sport. It conveys the concept of respect, mutual learning and win-win, and reminds the world that unity is better than confrontation, cooperation is better than differences, and unity is better than isolation. (End)
On November 23, 2021, at the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships held in Houston, USA, Manyu Wang (left) and Karnak, a multinational combination of China and the United States, competed. China News Service reporter Liu Guanguan photo
(Source: China News Network)
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