In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, Olympic table tennis champion Ma Long has captivated audiences in Taiwan during his recent visit. The Chinese athlete’s tour has ignited a renewed sense of friendship and understanding across the Taiwan Strait.
Throughout his nine-day tour, organized by the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, Ma Long visited universities, schools, and cultural landmarks, where he was met with enthusiastic crowds. Fans, especially young people, lined up for autographs and selfies, expressing their admiration for the table tennis star.
At Chengchi University, students eagerly awaited Ma Long’s arrival, hoping to get his autograph. The university’s ping pong team expressed gratitude for his visit, vowing to cherish the signed paddle as a treasured possession. Similar scenes unfolded at Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School and the Taipei Palace Museum, where fans gathered in large numbers, some shouting, “Don’t retire!” and “Bring other champions here, too!”
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the foundation, expressed optimism about the visit, stating, “We should play ping pong, not war.” This sentiment resonated deeply with people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, who yearn for peace and cooperation.
As both an athlete and a student at Beijing Sport University, Ma Long serves as a powerful symbol for youth exchange. “I look forward to having a good exchange with young friends and students in Taiwan so that we can better understand and trust each other,” Ma Long told CGTN.
Ma Long is part of a group of students from mainland Chinese colleges invited by the foundation to visit Taiwan for a nine-day tour beginning on November 27. In recent years, efforts have been made to foster youth exchanges, with former Chinese Kuomintang chairman Ma Ying-jeou also leading youth groups from Taiwan on visits to the mainland.
Reference(s):
Ping pong friendship: World champion Ma Long stars cross-straits event
cgtn.com
