Following their victory at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships, Team China participated in some ping pong diplomacy in London.
On May 11th a series of speeches, a panel talk, and friendly ping pong matches were held at Loughborough University in London. The event was organised to mark the 55th anniversary of Sino-British ping pong diplomacy. It took place one day after Team China won the men’s and women’s team ITTF World Table Tennis Championships also held in London.
More than 200 people packed into Loughborough University for the event including athletes and coaches of the England and China table tennis teams, Loughborough University students, and students from local schools. Several speeches were given including from Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang, Chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association Wang Liqin, Loughborough University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Nick Jennings, and English Table Tennis Association CEO Sally Lockyer.
In her speech, CEO of the English Table Tennis Association Sally Lockyer, said that the performance of the Chinese team at this World Table Tennis Championships is amazing, and it is rare to maintain the world’s top level for many years. She mentioned that over the years, the British table tennis community has always paid attention to and learned from the development experience of Chinese table tennis and hopes that the two sides can continue to strengthen mutual visits and cooperation in the future, and deepen understanding and friendship in exchanges.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association Wang Liqin also said that the Chinese Table Tennis Association is willing to continue to deepen cooperation with the English Table Tennis Association, Loughborough University and all sectors of society, and further strengthen interaction in the fields of youth training, event linkage and cultural exchanges, “so that friendship can be passed on from generation to generation.”
Following the speeches, there was an insightful talk on table tennis and the power of sport diplomacy. Particularly interesting was the stories shared by Alan Hydes, who as part of the English table tennis team visited China 55 years ago in the very first instance of Anglo-Chinese ping pong diplomacy. Reminiscing on the trip during the event, Mr Hydes talked about what an amazing journey it was, and how significant it was for him.
Perhaps the highlight of the event came at the end. When a series of friendly table tennis matches occurred between members of the Chinese table tennis team and British athletes, students and the audience. It demonstrated that 55 years on, ping pong diplomacy, still has a role to play.
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