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Ping Pong

This show is the selected drama by NRTA

in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the PRC,

and was funded under the 2019 Art Creation of Hubei.

Episode 5

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.

This will be

a single-elimination tournament.

Best of five.

The top three players

will become the members of the national second team.

So, don't think too much.

Just do your best.

Don't leave any regrets behind.

Understand?

Yes!

The tournament starts now!

First Round Yu Ke Nan 3:0 Han Xin

First Round Xu Tan 3:2 Guan Wei

First Round Su Chang 3:1 Jia Yu

Second Round

Yu Ke Nan, Xu Tan, Su Chang: 1; Jia Yu, Guan Wei, Han Xin: 0

Yu Ke Nan: 2; Han Xin: 0; Jia Yu, Xu Tan, Guan Wei, Su Chang: 1

Third Round

Yu Ke Nan: 2; Han Xin: 0; Jia Yu, Xu Tan, Guan Wei, Su Chang: 1

Yu Ke Nan: 3; Su Chang, Xu Tan: 2; Jia Yu, Guan Wei: 1; Han Xin: 0

Round Three

Yu Ke Nan: 3; Su Chang, Xu Tan: 2; Jia Yu, Guan Wei: 1; Han Xin: 0

Yu Ke Nan: 4; Guan Wei, Han Xin: 1; Xu Tan, Jia Yu, Su Chang: 2

It's a tie between you and Su Chang now.

This is the last death match.

The winner will join the national team.

You still have to defend against Jia Yu and Guan Wei.

If they win,

they might surpass you.

Hopefully, Champion Yu can help you out

by defeating Jia Yu.

Let's start the competition now.

All the best.

All the best.

This is the last round. Don't lose too quickly.

Great shot.

Yu Ke Nan 5:1 Jia Yu

Can you stop?

Can't I wipe off my sweat?

You can't copy my moves on

the ping-pong table, right?

First round, make a feint to the east but attack in the west.

Second round, make a feint to the east and attack in the east.

And in the third round, he'll be in a mess.

What's wrong with Jia Yu?

He doesn't know whether Yu Ke Nan is going to

do a reverse serve or a backspin serve.

So, he's always one step behind.

Yu Ke Nan is really good

in feinting.

This is the fifth round and he's behind by two marks.

This will be hard for him.

All the best, Xu Tan. Don't give up.

Give me my notebook.

Congratulations.

You are going back to the second team again.

We won't meet each other again.

No need to put on this facade.

Don't be like this.

Fate brings people together.

We can't be sure about

what will happen in the future.

Jia Yu.

No matter what tricks you use,

you won't be able to win me.

A fake

will always be a fake.

Yu Ke Nan.

There's something

that I forgot to tell you.

Do you remember that afternoon?

I wasn't drinking alcohol at all.

Yes.

I purposely got you drunk so that

you were late to the competition.

You are still afraid.

You can jot them down.

But when you are on the field,

don't think about these.

Or you will lose the ball before you know it.

Be steady.

Great!

He uses his backhand

to push only.

So, target his backhand.

Great shot!

Xu Tan managed to

predict Su Chang's serve.

Next, I'll announce the result.

According to the scores of this tournament,

Guan Wei

in the third place of this tournament,

will stay in the national second team.

Xu Tan

in the second place of this tournament,

will join the national second team.

Yu Ke Nan in the first place of this tournament,

second place in the overall ranking

of this training,

will join the national second team.

Next, let's take a group photo as a memento.

Three, two, cheese.

Cheese!

Master.

I'm still not sure about myself.

This is my first time joining this training.

And I got into the national team.

Am I too lucky?

There's no such thing as pure luck.

This is the result of your hard work over time.

But in a competition,

luck is indeed

part of your strength too.

Be confident.

I have faith in you.

Don't worry.

After I join the national team,

I'll continue to work hard.

I won't disappoint you.

Remember your promise.

Go back to accompany your parents during this Chinese New Year.

After this,

it might be your last holiday.

Chinese New Year in Shanghai, 2005

I got it.

Okay, uncle. I'll go in first.

Mother.

You scared me.

I'm back.

You are back.

You've slimmed down.

No, I didn't.

Look.

Look at my arm.

Take a rest.

I've cooked your favourite food.

Really?

Let me help you.

Go and take a rest.

It's okay. Let's cook together.

Mother.

It's just you at home?

Your father is at the training centre.

There'll be a National Junior Championship at the end of this year.

The city team is training at his centre.

What kind of competition that requires you to train during Chinese New Year's Eve?

How about you go to the centre

to see when will the training end.

Just give him a call.

I did. But he didn't pick up.

Whatever then.

Go now.

Food will be ready when you come back.

This child is quite talented.

Yes. He's showing very promising result this year.

The training hasn't ended yet?

He's so responsible.

He's always on time even during the Chinese New Year's Eve.

It's not easy to be a coach.

Yes.

Hey.

Who allowed you to enter?

Mr. Yu.

Your son is back.

He asked you to go home for the reunion dinner.

Thank you, Mr. Wang.

Stop crying.

Stop crying. I'll buy you some food, okay?

What's wrong?

Tell me.

What happened?

He said that we couldn't win him.

He said that we shouldn't train here and

should just go home to play with dirt.

My sticker fell down because of him.

You are the one who asked me to play with you.

I was just playing with them.

Mother asked you to go home to eat.

Give me your hands.

What are you doing?

You are still doing it now?

No pain, no gain!

Do I need you to tell me

how to teach my disciples?

The way you teach them is already outdated!

Zhang Chao Jie.

I'm here!

Play with him.

Score once and you win.

Let's see how good you are.

Are you kidding me?

Come on.

You can serve first.

There is no father who doesn't love their own sons.

It's just that everyone

has their own ways.

Good. Well done!

Continue to work hard.

Take your gifts

and go home to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Thank you, Mr. Yu.

Happy Chinese New Year, Mr. Yu.

What is it?

Aren't' you going to

keep boasting like what you did just now?

Don't underestimate this one score.

In a competition,

when it's ten against nine

and ten against ten,

this score will be the determining score.

Look at you.

You just got into the national team

and you are already so arrogant.

Let me tell you.

I have to go back and eat now.

Anshan, Liaoning, 2005

Yesterday, you told me that you got into the national team.

So, I wanted to tell your mother about it.

But as luck would have it,

she received the acceptance offer that she applied for you.

Acceptance offer?

Yes.

She was worried that you would fail.

This is her backup plan for you.

Let me tell you.

We need to plan carefully

on how to break this news to her.

We should make sure that she's in a good mood first.

Why do we need a plan? I'll just tell her.

No.

It took me more than 10 days to convince her last time.

Today is Chinese New Year's Eve.

If we tell her now,

we don't have to celebrate Chinese New Year anymore.

Come.

The food is ready. We can eat now.

Okay.

Xu. Say something. It's Chinese New Year.

Okay. Today, our son is back.

We are finally reunited again.

Come.

Come.

Let's drink together.

Come.

Cheers.

Happy Chinese New Year.

Happy Chinese New Year, son.

Happy Chinese New Year.

By the way, son.

Take a good rest during the Chinese New Year.

After that,

you have to get ready for that cultural course.

Get ready for the exam.

I've already sent the materials

Come, let's eat.

to your experimental middle school.

After March,

you'll be able to

take the exam as a student

with PE speciality.

Then, you can enrol into the school.

Mother.

Son, eat more.

Can you slow down?

You are not a young child. I can't believe you.

I'm fine.

By the way, Tan Tan, listen.

No need to think about other things.

Just focus on your cultural course.

I've already prepared

all the materials

and found a teacher for you.

Don't worry.

I...

I've joined the national team.

What?

You've joined the national team?

No. Well...

At first,

I wanted to

tell you about it yesterday.

But when I thought about it...

Wait.

You knew about this since the start, right?

Why didn't you tell me then?

Tan Tan, let me ask you.

Am I still your mother?

Joining the national team

is such a serious matter.

Why didn't you discuss it with me when you came back?

I'm asking you. Tell me.

Honey, let me explain.

No need to explain it to me.

You already knew

but you didn't tell me about it.

I even put in so much effort

to find a teacher

and prepare the materials for him.

Am I crazy?

Fine. From now on,

I won't care about you anymore. You can do it yourself.

Do whatever you like.

I don't care anymore!

Honey, it's Chinese New Year!

Look at your mother's temper.

It's Chinese New Year.

Didn't I ask you not to tell her today? Look.

Why are you still awake?

This...

After your grandfather passed away,

we don't have enough space at home.

So, we moved all the things here.

Sleep earlier.

Rest earlier.

Let me tell you.

He had been spoiled by your father.

I don't care that

your father liked to play ping-pong.

Why did he have to drag Tan Tan into it?

Look at him now.

At least he no longer has asthma now

because of ping-pong.

You should

listen to his opinion more.

He's already 17 years old.

Do you still consider him a child?

Look at him.

How can I let him be?

Father, this...

Son.

This photo.

Last time, this...

Forget it. This photo has nothing to do with you.

This is my grandfather's photo. You...

Are you going to

throw away all ping-pong related objects?

This is too much.

What do you mean by that?

Come back.

Is this how you talk to your mother?

I can't believe him.

Enough. Don't try to placate me.

Don't touch me.

What are you doing this late at night? Come.

Enough. Go back to sleep.

Don't touch me.

I'm so mad at you right now.

Your shoulder

is still sore, right? Let me massage it for you.

Time to eat.

You have no manners.

Let's eat.

Pick up your hand.

Are you done yet?

Nan Nan.

I'll always be wrong if I don't do

as you said, right?

Are you going to rebel now?

It's rare for him to be back.

He even made it to the national team.

We should celebrate.

Can he be so arrogant

just because he got into the national team?

Look at him now.

He was even more outrageous when he went to my centre this afternoon.

No one will be supervising him in Beijing.

We don't know how arrogant he can get.

He's rash and he takes his enemy lightly.

After two months,

make sure that they don't call me when they kick you out!

Don't embarrass me!

You are so amazing.

If you are so amazing, why weren't you the world champion?

I don't need you

to teach me what to do!

Yu, what are you doing during Chinese New Year?

Let's talk properly.

Mother, I'm done.

Nan Nan.

Nan Nan.

Speed!

Increase your speed!

November, 1993

Speed!

Didn't you eat?

Give me your hand.

Father, I can hit it with my backhand.

You better train your forehand first.

But it's easier to hit it with my backhand.

Just do as I said!

Learn to walk before you run!

Use your forehand!

You don't want to teach me because you can't serve well.

Give me your hand.

Tan Tan's First World Champion

Third of May, 1995, Anshan Hospital

Emergency Hall

I'll say this today.

He's not allowed to learn ping-pong anymore.

You should

let him make the decision himself.

He's just seven.

How can he make the decision?

Didn't you see how pale he is?

He should just focus on his studies

Grandfather!

and attend the university in Beijing when he grows up.

Please lower down your voice.

Did you hear that?

He won!

Grandfather, when I grow up,

I'll become the world champion for you.

Let me write it down for you.

Tan Tan's

first world champion.

A man keeps his promise.

Let's seal the deal with a high five.

It's a promise then.

♫ Youth is very fleeting ♫

We are the champion!

We are the champion!

♫ It gave me power ♫

Tan Tan's First World Champion

♫ We will always rush ahead stubbornly with ignorance ♫

♫ We will always run towards that light of unknown ♫

♫ We will always wish to be younger ♫

♫ We just want to watch from above when the sun rises ♫

What's wrong?

See for yourself.

Mother, I'll go back to the team now.

Take care.

Spring 2005, Beijing Team

Congratulations.

I'll come back to the national team eventually.

Master.

Lei, you didn't bring your keys?

Cut the nonsense.

Where is my present?

You brat.

Here!

Happy birthday!

Thank you, father.

Coming.

Happy birthday!

So fragrant. Oh my goodness.

He really thinks that this is his home.

Let me tell you.

You have to try this.

Curry rice.

It's delicious. I made it.

It smells nice.

Well.

Can I open the cake, father?

Sure.

I bought it for you.

Open it.

How is it?

How is it?

I designed it myself.

Isn't it unique?

Good things come in pairs. May victory be with you.

Isn't it creative?

Let me tell you.

Even the owner

of the cake shop has never seen

this kind of cake before.

Make a wish.

It's okay. It's her birthday today.

I already said that good things come in pairs.

Come, make a wish.

Make a wish.

The candles are going to go out soon.

Come.

Blow the candles.

One, two.

Good.

Xu Tan, you've entered the national team.

Now, you have to work harder.

You are a man. You have to push yourself.

Understand?

Have you met Mr. Fu?

Eat.

Let me tell you.

The national team

is totally different from what you know.

Lei Lei, where are you going?

I'm going to make a call.

Don't mind her.

Well.

Your duty will be different when you are wearing the national flag.

Okay.

At first, you are just playing ping-pong.

But now, you are going to bring glory to the country.

Xu Tan, as an athlete,

how honourable is that?

Getting into the national team is a whole new platform for you.

There are so many ping-pong players in the country.

How many of them can get into the national team

to bring glory to the country?

Lei Lei.

I know that you like music.

I hope that this CD player

can bring you great melodies.

Happy birthday.

From your mother who loves you.

After entering the national team,

you'll clearly feel

the difference in the training regime

compared to the local team's training.

First, your opponents

are all professional players.

They'll force you to...

Lei Lei.

Where are you going?

Go ahead and enjoy the food.

What does she mean?

Is she mad?

Let me check on her.

Ping Pong Little Drama

The origin and development of ping-pong.

Origin and Development

Ping-pong originated from England.

At the end of 19th century,

tennis became popular in Europe.

But because of

the venue and weather limitations,

some university students in England thought about

moving tennis indoor.

They used the dining table as tennis table,

books as the net

and parchment paper as racquets.

Then, they played it on the dining table.

In 1890,

Several British Navy officers who are stationed in India

found out by chance that

it's quite exciting to play tennis

on a small table.

After some repeated experiments,

they started to use solid rubber ball

instead of solid ball that is less elastic.

In the end, they changed it to hollow plastic ball

and replaced the net racquet with wooden board.

Then, they started this new tennis competition

on a table.

This is where the name 'table tennis' is originated from.

During the World Table Tennis Championships in 1959,

an athlete from China

got the first world champion for China.

And it has inspired everyone in China.

From then on,

ping-pong became popular in China

and became a national sport in China.

Ping-pong is suitable for everyone.

No matter the gender,

the place

and the venue.

Besides,

ping-pong works your whole body.

It's good for your body, your mind and your heart.

Compared to soccer and basketball,

it's more versatile.

So,

it's everyone's favourite sport.

Ping Pong