20 | Thursday, August 19, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS OLYMPICS Pally paddlers put friendship first China’s all-conquering table tennis stars reveal secrets of their tight-knit bond From left: Fan Zhendong, coach Qin Zhijian, Xu Xin and Ma Long pose with the Chinese national flag after defeating Germany in the table tennis men’s team final at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug 6. Team China won four out of the five gold medals on offer at the Games, only missing out on the mixed doubles title. AP By SHI FUTIAN the squad, and my teammates all have [email protected] really good personalities. In a way, we are all natural comedians.” hinese paddlers’ glorious The revelation that Chen is related to Tokyo Olympics campaign was renowned actor Huang Xiaoming was built on individual brilliance also a big talking point among fans on the table and an unbreaka- online. Cble team spirit off it. “Before the women’s singles final, my Bagging four of the five gold medals cousin, who is filming his new movie, on offer, China maintained its domi- texted me some words of encourage- nance of the sport in the Japanese capi- ment. He said he would be cheering for tal. However, fans back home were me in front of the TV,” said Chen. equally cheered by the obvious solidari- “Of course, he congratulated me after ty and kinship within the squad — even I won the gold, and said he would per- between gold-medal rivals. sonally prepare a big meal to welcome Six days after beating Sun Yingsha in me home. But I haven’t finished my the women’s singles final, Chen Meng quarantine, so I will for sure have that was captured on camera helping her meal when I get out.” younger teammate with the nuances of Despite their dominant display in correctly wearing a face mask. The clip, Tokyo, China’s paddlers are wary of a filmed after China’s semifinal victory in new breed of foreign talents eager to the women’s team competition, went knock them off their perch. viral on social media, racking up 160 “There are a number of foreign play- million views on Weibo by Wednesday. ers in their early 20s, who are very tal- “Of course, we all know Sun Yingsha Table tennis legend Liu Guoliang congratulates Chen Meng (center) and Sun Yingsha following their victory in ented and play a really attacking game. has very ‘pinchable’ cheeks! There were the women’s team final at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug 5. REUTERS We’ve played them on many occasions, obviously regulations at the Olympics and we know how much they want to about wearing face masks, so when we day my opponent played really aggres- tion we faced. That’s why I was able to Actually, many fans have seen the video defeat Chinese players,” Xu said. stopped playing, we were supposed to sively, so it was a truly hard-fought win,” consistently perform well and achieve clips of our team meetings before the “For example, 25-year-old Hugo Cal- wear them,” Chen told China Daily dur- Chen said. what I did.” various finals. He just made us more derano from Brazil has now broken into ing an exclusive Douyin livestream on “But many people noticed that day, in Men’s doubles specialist Xu Xin, who passionate. Especially, before the team the top 10 of the men’s world rankings, Monday. the toughest situation, that president helped China to men’s team gold and finals, his pep talk truly motivated us and we also have many rivals in Asia. “We were all really focused on watch- Liu never stopped cheering and encour- mixed doubles silver in Tokyo, also sin- and we just wanted to show the best of “Before major international tourna- ing our teammates play that day. But aging me from the stands. He stood up gled out Liu for high praise. ourselves on the biggest stage.” ments, our team draws up a big chart to when I turned my head to chat with Sha and cheered when I won each point. “CTTA president Liu Guoliang helped pinpoint our major rivals across the Sha (Sun Yingsha), I noticed she wasn’t That was truly unforgettable for me. us a lot during the Tokyo Olympics. ‘Natural comedians’ globe. This time the chart was too big as wearing her face mask properly. So, nat- “Being able to win the two Olympic Actually, we could always hear his voice Even without paddles in their hands, we have many competitive rivals. Our urally, I helped her. After all, she’s young- gold medals, in the singles and the team and his cheers and words of encourage- Team China’s stars proved to be true rivals are not only from Asia, there are er than me, and in our daily training, we event in Tokyo, was really special for me. ment from the stands when we were entertainers, with the Weibo hashtag many good players from Europe and just help and support each other.” After all, Tokyo 2020 was my Olympic playing,” Xu told China Daily during “All Team China paddlers are comedi- South America.” Chen revealed that feeling of camara- debut. What’s more important is the Monday’s livestream. ans” showing just how much the public Chen says the up-and-coming opposi- derie was nurtured from the top down people who supported me throughout “Before we arrived in Tokyo, he was enjoyed their quick-witted responses in tion only serves to motivate Team China thanks to the example shown by Chi- the journey, including my coach, team- always very serious and was pretty strict front of the TV camera. players to keep pushing their limits. nese Table Tennis Association president mates and the CTTA. with us. But when we actually arrived, “I think for all Team China players, we “My goal is simple — to win more Liu Guoliang, the legendary former “I also want to thank our support he helped ease the pressure and encour- have had quick reactions since we were titles,” she said. “There will be many player and coach. team, which has offered us the best pos- aged us. kids. We can react quickly to any ques- more top-level international tourna- “I was really in trouble in my women’s sible training and living conditions. “He spoke to us about many things. tions in interviews and other situations. ments, and my table tennis dream is far singles quarterfinal. I lost the first two Under the leadership of CTTA president The Tokyo 2020 campaign was a long, So we always have some funny answers from over. I just hope now I can keep games, and at 0-2 down things were Liu Guoliang, the team has constantly drawn-out process, so at certain times to the questions from media,” said Xu. this momentum and keep improving looking pretty precarious for me. That had our backs in every difficult situa- he encouraged us in different ways. “I’m only one of the funny players in my performances in the future.” Palestinian weightlifter undeterred by heavy load of Gaza life Mohammed Hamada feels that he In May this year, he finished sev- by his dad, Khamis. The 62-year-old However, he was often unable to is steadily moving toward his dream enth at the Asia championships and father of eight told Xinhua that leave the enclave as the borders of becoming an international eighth at the under-20 world cham- Mohammed first displayed an inter- were closed. Mohammed would, champion. pionships in Uzbekistan, where he est in weightlifting when he was just therefore, leave Gaza months in As the first Palestinian to compete performed a 141 kg snatch and 171 kg 6 years old, simulating the moves of advance to avoid missing out on in an Olympic weightlifting compe- clean and jerk for a total weight of his older brother Hussam, who participating in competitions. tition, the 19-year-old finished 13th 312 kg. coached the sport. “Sometimes I spent many days on in the 96-kilogram category at “I am proud of what I have Soon, Mohammed was spending my way to arrive in Egypt before Tokyo 2020, and is already aiming to achieved and I will continue my hours watching the Olympics and heading to the country that was improve on that result at the 2024 strenuous efforts to raise the Palestin- dreamed that one day he would be hosting the competition. However, I Paris Games. ian flag in the international arena.” there too. felt that I have a goal that I must “I have spent many years of my With resources limited in the “I decided to encourage my child, achieve, and once I reached that life training to participate in such an troubled Gaza Strip, however, ath- and any of his brothers who would goal, I forgot all the obstacles that I international event,” said Hamada, letic training is a luxury that not like to be a champion, even if the sit- faced,” he said. who was treated to a hero’s welcome everyone can afford. Mohammed Hamada in action at the Tokyo Olympics. uation was impossible for us,” said Four of Mohammed’s brothers by the Palestinian public when he In 2007, life in Gaza was turned Khamis. have also participated in many Arab returned to the Gaza Strip from upside down when Israel imposed a Khamis registered his son with a competitions, winning various Tokyo. tight blockade on the region after and economic decline.