The silver balls darted back and forth, accompanied by bursts of laughter. Recently, a fun and friendly match between members of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team and American high school students took place at the gymnasium of the LaSalle University Preparatory High School in Pasadena, California, USA.
To commemorate the 55th anniversary of the “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” between China and the United States, the Chinese table tennis team, which had recently concluded its participation in the 2026 World Table Tennis Professional League (WTT) US Grand Prix, visited Lassal Preparatory High School the day after the tournament ended to engage with students and teachers. As it was summer vacation, the school’s gymnasium was still packed with spectators. Hundreds of students and parents had traveled specifically to witness the Chinese table tennis team in action. Every time a Chinese team member or coach entered the gymnasium, they were greeted with thunderous applause.
On that day, the Chinese table tennis team staged exhibition matches for the men’s and women’s doubles at the Lassalle University Preparatory High School Gymnasium. Wen Rui-bo and Yuan Li-cen, the US Grand Slam men’s doubles champions, faced off against Lin Shi-dong and Huang You-zheng, the runners-up. Wang Man-yu and Kuai Man, the winners of the women’s doubles, competed against their teammates Wang Yi-di and Chen Yi. Their impressive skills left both students and teachers in awe.
After the match, all members of the Chinese team took the stage one by one, mingling with American student table tennis players to engage in a friendly competition. The American students’ faces were filled with excitement as they partnered with world champions. Some of them bravely exerted themselves during the matches.
“Showcasing strength,” some were proud to engage in a “back-and-forth” match with the champion. Even some students improvised by striking the ball under their thighs, eliciting laughter from the audience. Chinese athletes shook hands and gave high-fives with American young athletes, encouraging them to fully express their skills and enthusiasm.
During the live Q&A session, American children showed great interest in top table tennis players from the East. They listened intently to stories about the world champions’ training routines, their experiences during competitions, and their hobbies.
Perry Martin, principal of the LaSalle University Preparatory High School, delivered a speech stating that 55 years ago, a small ball of ping-pong propelled history forward. Today, our students are not merely witnessing an impressive display of ping-pong; they are experiencing firsthand how sports can serve as a bridge for fostering friendships, connecting cultures, and facilitating communication between nations. LaSalle University Preparatory High School is proud to be able to “continue writing beautiful chapters in the history of friendly exchanges between the United States and China.”
Guo Shaochun, the Consul General of China in Los Angeles, stated that the visit of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team to Lassar University Preparatory High School, where they engaged with students and shared their sportsmanship, was a vivid demonstration of the spirit of the meeting between the Chinese and American leaders. He expressed the hope that through this event, participants would deepen their understanding, forge friendships, and become the new generation of ambassadors for Sino-American friendship, working together to continue the exciting chapter of “table tennis diplomacy” in the new era.
He Xiao, Secretary-General of the Chinese Table Tennis Association, stated that over the past 55 years of ups and downs, the exchange between China and the United States in table tennis has never ceased. From the early days of mutual visits and training sessions between players from both countries to the formation of cross-border pairs who fought side by side, and now as we step into American campuses, successive generations of table tennis enthusiasts have continued to uphold this friendship transcending national boundaries. He added that the Chinese Table Tennis Association will continue to establish platforms for exchanges between Chinese and American young people. “We look forward to the students present using this exchange as a starting point to experience the joy of competition through play, to understand each other’s cultures through dialogue, and to turn today’s encounter into a lasting friendship.” (Outlook New Era)
Edit：Zeng Mengqi Responsible editor：Li Yi
Source：people.cn
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