Chinanews client, Beijing, September 4th, title: Dialogue | Hong Kong girl Du Kaiyan: Watching the flag raising in Tiananmen Square makes me full of power
Author Liu Xingchen
Du Kaiyan, a native of Hong Kong, China, was remembered by many people after the Tokyo Olympics.
On August 5, at the Tokyo Stadium, the Hong Kong team led by her defeated the German team 3-1 in the bronze medal match, bringing Hong Kong, China the first table tennis team medal in the history of the Olympic Games.
After the game, the Chinese team and the Hong Kong team took a group photo. The scene where the five-star red flag and the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were raised together was talked about by everyone.
From the up-and-coming young player at the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, to the "new sister" in the Chinese Hong Kong table tennis world, which is rapidly rising in the world rankings, to the absolute main player in the table tennis singles, mixed doubles, and team competitions. He is 24 years old. Du Kaixian of his was advancing step by step.
The profound connotation of the word "dream" was fully interpreted by her
.
"I want to go to Tiananmen Square to see", this is Du Kaiyan's sincere expression, a small goal of her, and a yearning for her.
The Olympic medal is in the past tense, but in the words, you can still hear Du Kaiyan's uncontrollable excitement.
In an exclusive interview with a reporter from China-Singapore Sports, she told the story of herself and Ping Pong.
The picture shows the Hong Kong team showing medals.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
First encounter with ping pong
Sino-Singapore Sports: How did you become acquainted with table tennis?
Du Kaiyan: Actually, when I was young, my mother enrolled me in a lot of interest classes, such as swimming, badminton, and tennis.
She also hoped that I could go dancing, but she would cry as soon as she entered the dancing class.
When my brother was playing table tennis in the gym, I went to help him pick up the ball.
Soon we two started to "fight", and we became more and more interested in table tennis. This is how the story came later.
Group photo with the national table tennis game
Sino-Singapore Sports: This time the medal is a breakthrough for the Hong Kong team of China in the table tennis team event. After the game, it was possible to stand on the podium and feel the national flag raising and playing the national anthem. What was it like at that time?
Du Kaiyan: I am very happy to be able to win the bronze medal and stand on the podium in the end.
The moment we stood on the podium, we still felt very unbelievable.
I am very proud to see that the national flag and the regional flag are raised together.
The picture shows a group photo of the Chinese team and the Hong Kong team after the award ceremony.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
Sino-Singapore Sports: At the Rio Olympics, the team actually lost to the German team. The success of this "revenge", does it give yourself and Hong Kong more confidence in table tennis in the future?
Du Kaixian: In fact, in Rio, including this game, the overall strength of the team is lower than the German team. The main reason for winning the game in the end is because we are very united.
In the bronze medal game, everyone also tried their best. Before the game, we put our position very low, mainly with the mentality of attacking the opponent to play the game.
Winning this time will definitely give myself and the team more confidence in the future.
The picture shows Liu Guoliang clashing with the coach of the Hong Kong team in China.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
China Singapore Sports: The Hong Kong team of the women's team also went to watch the match. Was it invited by the national table tennis team or did the team take the initiative to go there?
Du Kaixian: In fact, during the Olympics, except when the team is playing games, other teams will also watch the games. Usually we may watch the games live on mobile phones more often.
The final game is definitely going to be watched on the spot. After all, it is in the Olympic Games. This is a confrontation of the highest level.
And every time I watch the Chinese team play a game, their technical "prosperity" can give me a lot of inspiration, and I will learn a lot from it.
China Singapore Sports: After the women's team finals, the Chinese team and the Hong Kong team took a group photo. This scene was talked about by everyone. Is there any exchange between the two teams?
Du Kaixian: Before the awards, we really wanted to take a photo with the Chinese team.
However, due to the award, the mobile phone had been put away at that time.
Fortunately, after getting off the podium, I received an invitation from Chairman Liu Guoliang. Chairman Liu said, "We are a family."
Seeing that the members of the National Ping Pong Group were greeting us to the past, I was very happy, so I rushed over to take a group photo, which left that precious photo.
The picture shows Hong Kong table tennis player Du Kaixian, who won the bronze medal in the women's table tennis team at the Tokyo Olympics, and the citizens.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Zhihua
"Watching the flag raising makes me full of strength"
Sino-Singapore Sports: After the game, you once suggested that you want to go to Tiananmen Square to have a look. Is this a dream that has not been realized before?
Du Kaixian: Actually, when I was a child, including a few years ago, I also went there. In fact, as long as I go to Beijing to train, I usually go to Tiananmen Square.
After winning the medal this time, I really want to go again. It will be a brand new experience.
Every morning there is a flag-raising ceremony. I want to feel the atmosphere again.
In a quiet environment, watching the national flag rise and the national anthem sounded, my heart will be full of strength.
Image source: Weibo screenshot.
"Thanks to Chairman Liu, and I admire him very much"
Sino-Singapore Sports: You participated in the national table tennis special training last year. How long did you train at that time?
Du Kaixian: In October last year, in order to participate in the Women's Table Tennis World Cup, I came to the mainland at that time.
After the game, we received a warm invitation from Chairman Liu and the China Table Tennis Association. In fact, there are players from other associations, so we formed an "international team" to participate in the subsequent Table Tennis Super League.
During this period, I have been training with the national team, probably until February and March of this year.
Sino-Singapore Sports: What was the atmosphere in the team during this special training? With whom is the best relationship?
Du Kaiyan: During the training period, the atmosphere within the team was quite harmonious.
At that time, I was the only member of the Hong Kong team in China, but everyone took good care of me in both technical aspects and daily life. In fact, all aspects of food, clothing, housing and transportation are reflected.
The best relationship should be Wang Yidi.
The two of us are relatively similar in personalities, and we can talk more often.
Data map: On August 28, local time, in the Jakarta Asian Games table tennis women's team competition, the Hong Kong team of China won the third place.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan
Sino-Singapore Sports: During the national table tennis special training, did you get the guidance of Chairman Liu Guoliang? What do you want to say to Chairman Liu?
Du Kaixian: It is often, and Chairman Liu takes care of me very much.
Including the guidance of Li Sun and Ma Lin, they also gave me a lot of help and advice.
Special thanks to Chairman Liu. When I was a child, I often watched his legendary games and learned from his successful experience. It was really amazing and I admired him from the bottom of my heart.
Sino-Singapore Sports: You have a lot of connections with the mainland, and you often go back and forth between the mainland and Hong Kong. Which match in the mainland has the deepest memory?
Du Kaixian: The most impressive thing is probably the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.
At that time, I just turned into a full-time athlete. The Youth Olympic Games was the first major competition I participated in, and it was also a fresh experience.
There will be many volunteers at the competition venues in the Mainland, and I also felt their enthusiasm at the time.
In that game, the 1/8 finals and quarter finals faced Japanese players and American players respectively. The audience had been cheering on me. I was very moved and grateful for their care for me.
The overall results of that competition were relatively good, and it was after that made me more determined to take the path of table tennis.
Image source: Du Kaiyan's Weibo.
Sino-Singapore Sports: In addition to your status as a table tennis player, you are actually a member of the All-China Youth Federation of Hong Kong. In this position, what more efforts do you want to make? How can we better promote the exchanges and friendship between the young people of the Mainland and Hong Kong?
Du Kaixian: I am honored to be a member of the All-China Youth Federation in Hong Kong. In fact, I am still in the process of learning. When I participated in the conference, I saw elites from all walks of life and learned a lot from them.
What I can do is to strive for more achievements and honors in the field of sports, to infect more young people with the sportsmanship that I have shown on the field, and hope that I can compete in more sports. There are exchanges between the national or provincial teams in the mainland.
My own patriotic feelings are personally experienced and experienced, so I also hope that more young people can have such opportunities.
"I want to go to the Table Tennis Super League again"
Zhongxin Sports: What is your future career plan? Have you considered continuing to develop in the Table Tennis Super League?
Du Kaixian: In my opinion, the Mainland Table Tennis Super League is the strongest competition in the world, even higher than the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
I very much hope to participate in the Ping Pong Super League again, to compete and exchange with many outstanding players, and I believe I will make a big improvement, but I also need to see if there is a club that invites me to the past (laughs).
Image source: Du Kaiyan's Weibo.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Due to the epidemic, the new Olympic preparation cycle is only three years. What are your expectations for the Paris Olympics?
Du Kaiyan: Indeed, three years are very fast.
In fact, 5 years passed in a flash.
After playing the Tokyo Olympics this time, I feel that I have improved a lot and my confidence has also improved.
At this time, you have to take back your heart and think more carefully in the technical aspects.
Every day of training during the three years, including the games in the middle, cherish every opportunity, accumulate more in the daily bit, and look forward to growing up and having a good performance in Paris.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Can you briefly introduce Hong Kong's table tennis culture?
Du Kaixian: Actually, table tennis is also a popular event in Hong Kong.
There are table tennis tables in many gymnasiums. Whether it is children or older people, they actually love table tennis.
The Hong Kong Table Tennis Association provides many young people who love table tennis with platforms and opportunities to play.
I also participated in the table tennis academy when I was a child, and I have come to today step by step.
The picture shows Du Kaixian in the game.
Image source: Visual China
China-Singapore Sports: For the Tokyo Olympics, you participated in three events: singles, mixed doubles, and team. As the leader of the team, what plans do you have for the popularization and promotion of table tennis in Hong Kong in the future?
Du Kaixian: My position in the team is now the main force, but I am not very mature. I still hope to do a good job first and infect more people through my athletic performance.
Because many children in Hong Kong still focus on reading, they can only be considered full-time players after the age of 15. It is sometimes difficult to choose between playing and reading.
I hope they can see that professional table tennis players can try this path, including plans to play and learn simultaneously in the sports academy. I am also in this situation now.
Through publicity, I hope that more people can take the path of professional athletes.
(over)