Students cheered the opportunity to meet the leading athletes face to face
Members of a mainland Olympians’ delegation share their stories with students and residents at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Dec 5, 2021. (RAYMOND CHAN / CHINA DAILY)
Five of the Chinese mainland’s top Olympians and a coach have inspired Hong Kong students with their ups and downs in the quest to be world champions or help make one, instilling in the city’s younger generation the true Olympic spirit.
The athletes, who were part of a visiting 29-member Olympian team from the mainland, met students at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Sunday. The meeting was among a series of activities on the last day of the delegation’s three-day visit to the special administrative region that began on Friday.
Table tennis has taught me how to face victories and defeats. In competitions, you can succeed only when you’re determined to win.
Ma Long
Speaking to a roomful of youngsters, 33-year-old table tennis Grand Slam winner Ma Long, who won two gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, told the students why he wanted to continue his table tennis career despite his great achievements in the sport, and how he had overcome injuries and challenges, which then inspired him to take part in the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
With a recurrence of injuries to his left knee, the table tennis star underwent surgery in 2019, leading many to wonder if he would be too old to continue pursuing his Olympic dreams.
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“Table tennis has taught me how to face victories and defeats. In competitions, you can succeed only when you’re determined to win,” Ma said. “Besides, sports have given me the courage to face failure and never give up.”
Ma, as one of the world’s most successful table tennis players, believes that idols should be like “candles” or “mirrors” who can help others find the best versions of themselves — to be brave in pursuing their dreams and love. He urged students to hold fast to their aspirations and what they love.
Su Bingtian — the first-ever mainland sprinter to make it to the men’s 100m final, which he did at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — admitted that the serious injuries he received in sports in 2019 had depressed him and hindered his efforts to do even better.
However, his relentless efforts and scientific training helped him overcome the hurdles, as well as his “aging”, the 32-year-old sprint star said. “Only when you believe in yourself could you create the chance to make your dream come true,” he said.
Young children wave the Chinese national flags and the flags of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at Sunday’s sports demonstrations performed by mainland Olympians at the Yuen Long district sports association complex. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)
Epee champion Sun Yiwen, weightlifting champion Lyu Xiaojun, women’s quadruple sculls gold medalist Cui Xiaotong, and national swimming team coach Wang Aimin also shared their experiences with the students.
Tiffany Cheung, a 6-year secondary student of Diocesan Girls’ School, said the meeting with the mainland Olympic stars has taught more about the struggles they had gone through before achieving glory. She said the athletes’ experiences have spurred her to perform better in her studies.
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Dylan Hong, a PolyU sophomore and athlete, said Su impressed him the most. He said he will learn from the role model in upholding the “never-give-up” attitude and pay more attention to training.
Lam Tai-fai, chairman of the PolyU Council as well the head of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, invited the mainland athletes to further their studies at PolyU when they retire from sports.
He said he was grateful to the athletes, calling it a “rare” and “precious” opportunity for the university’s students and staff members to communicate with the nation’s top athletes and coach.
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Athletes and Hong Kong government officials said they have high expectations of the 2025 National Games, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as expectations for deeper cooperation between the SAR and the mainland.
Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui Ying-wai said Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park, a 28-hectare multipurpose sports venue being built and due to be completed in 2023, will be used for the upcoming National Games.
He pledged that the SAR government will cooperate fully with Guangdong and Macao to make the National Games a safe and successful event.
Responding to a question from the audience, Cui said there has been wide support for a proposal to hold a rowing competition on the Shenzhen River, which links Hong Kong with Shenzhen.
The Olympic champion said she hopes to take part if such a competition could be held there as soon as possible.
