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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 27

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

Mr. Zheng.

Why is it playing ping pong

so difficult?

I am Fu Jing Chun. I'm 16 this year.

I come from Wuhan, Hubei.

I'm a left-handed fast anti-spin offensive player with pen-hold grip.

I'm the champion of Hubei Men's Singles for five consecutive years,

champion of National Junior Championship for three consecutive years.

Please accept me as your disciple, Mr. Zheng.

Do you know who I am?

Yes.

If you want to become my disciple,

you'll have to work harder than everyone else.

Can you do it?

As long as I can become the champion,

I can endure all kinds of hardships.

Why do you want to become the champion?

Think about it.

Thank you, Mr. Zheng!

8th August 2008, Beijing Olympic Village

All the warriors of China men's ping pong team!

May victory be with you in Beijing 2008!

♫ Let our story be proud ♫

♫ Working hard at dawn ♫

This is the invitation card.

♫ Growing up, feeling confused ♫

You can enter the Olympic Village now.

The TV station will be here this afternoon to film the promotional video.

Go and join Fang Yue and the others.

Think of it as

experiencing the moment.

♫ Ten years just passed like this ♫

♫ But it's like yesterday ♫

Even if

you have only 1% of chance,

you are already 100% prepared for it.

♫ I've accompanied you for ten years ♫

♫ You were so young ♫

♫ Looking at this world ♫

Mr. Zheng.

I'll do my best to support the main players.

Here.

This is the last one. We have everything now.

Let's do this countdown together through time and space.

Let this roaring rhythm

vibrate across the vast land of our home country.

Let us, the passionate people of China,

welcome the Olympics in China together.

It has now arrived

together with the sound of drum and the whole world counting down with us.

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One!

My granny...

Come back!

Where are you going, you brat?

I'm going to find my mother in Chengdu!

You have to bring money if you want to find your mother, right?

Take this. Spend it wisely.

Don't starve yourself.

Come back if you can't find your mother.

I'll be waiting for you at home.

Granny!

Granny!

My fellow audience.

You are now watching

the live broadcast of Beijing 2008's

men's ping pong competition.

This is the fifth round of China versus Korea.

Their respective score

is two versus two.

In other words,

the result of the next round

will determine the fate of both teams.

All of us know that

during the Athens 2004,

Park Ji-min had snatched away

the gold medal from Fang Yue that was once belonged to China.

What plans

does the coaching team have this time?

And how will this battle of the century

end?

Let's look forward to it.

Great shot!

He's in a good form.

The tragedy of Athens will not happen again, right?

What are you talking about?

No. I...

One Hour before the Competition

Senior, it's almost time.

Get out.

Xu Tan.

Xu Tan.

What are you doing?

You are going to tear this towel.

All the best, Fang Yue.

Team China, all the best!

Team China!

It's now ten versus six.

Fang Yue is only one mark away from winning.

After losing to Park Ji-min

in Athens 2004,

Fang Yue wanted to retire.

After going through

his darkest hours,

he said in his interview before the competition that

he'll going to defeat Park Ji-min today.

The break will end soon.

Let's look at his serve.

Fang Yue, all the best!

All the best!

All the best!

Victory belongs to China!

Victory belongs to China!

Fang Yue: 11; Park Ji-min: 6

Victory belongs to China!

♫ Light up the dark ♫

♫ To embrace the dreams ♫

♫ Grasp firmly on the hope ♫

♫ The lonely curve ♫

♫ Is shining brightly ♫

♫ The sky is blue ♫

♫ The dream that has never been given up ♫

♫ Is dazzling ♫

♫ Never admit defeat ♫

♫ Light up the future ♫

♫ Try it again even if you fail ♫

♫ My firm belief is shining on me ♫

The silver medalist of

ping pong men's singles is

Fang Yue!

Congratulations to China

for making it to the top three of the ping pong men's singles!

♫ Bring out your own light ♫

♫ Reach out with your hands ♫

♫ Scream towards the sky ♫

♫ about your fiery passion ♫

♫ Show your smile ♫

♫ This is our colourful future ♫

National Anthem of the People's Republic of China is going to be played now.

♫ Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves ♫

♫ With our flesh and blood, let us build a new Great Wall ♫

♫ As China faces her greatest peril ♫

♫ From each one the urgent call to action comes forth ♫

♫ Arise ♫

♫ Arise ♫

♫ Arise ♫

♫ Millions of but one heart ♫

♫ Braving the enemies' fire! March on ♫

♫ Braving the enemies' fire! March on ♫

♫ March on ♫

♫ March, march on ♫

Becoming a gold medalist in Beijing 2008

is so meaningful.

Xu Tan, do you think that everyone in the country

saw them standing on the victory rostrum?

Yes.

Why do you want to play ping pong?

Ke Nan. You don't know this, right?

I started playing ping pong

because of you.

Me?

Yes.

Both of you know that

my mother left me when I was two.

When I was around seven to eight,

I went to Chengdu alone to look for my mother.

At that time, I saw Ke Nan on TV.

He got

the gold medal of the Eight Cup.

You looked exactly the same

as how you look now.

It was a long time ago.

That time, I was thinking that

I could be on TV if I got a gold medal.

And many people would be able to

see me.

After that, I started playing ping pong.

I'm very simple-minded.

Even if my mother doesn't come to look for me,

I'll fight

to stand in a place

where everybody can see me.

Then, my mother will be able to find me.

Then,

why are you playing ping pong now?

Because I can earn money, make a living for myself

and take care of my granny.

Ke Nan, you haven't told me yet.

Why do you play ping pong?

Xu Tan, what about you?

After experiencing the earthquake this time,

I suddenly realised that

something is

different now.

I'm not sure what it is.

In the past,

I played ping pong to make a living.

Now,

am I living

just to play ping pong?

Senior, congratulations.

The last round was really...

By the way, here's your towel.

Thank you.

You can have it.

Xu Tan.

I'm going to retire.

Senior.

You are one Olympic away from the Grand Slam.

Aren't you going to play for another four years?

It'll be your turn after four years.

Four years ago, I lost in Athens 2004.

I can't even walk out from that competition.

Every time I stand in front of the table,

I'll remember the time

I lost the gold medal in that competition.

In that situation, anyone else would need to readjust to it.

It's understandable.

Readjust?

Xu Tan.

I'm really envious of you now.

You still have a lot of time.

You still have a lot of chances in the future

to stand on the field of

a world-class competition like today.

And you'll meet a magnificent opponent

like Park Ji-min.

It's too rare to have

a worthy opponent on your way

towards being a champion.

Xu Tan.

Do you want to be a champion?

Yes.

You want to get the Grand Slam?

Of course.

Then, from now onwards,

remember this.

No matter what happens in the future,

remember this moment

where you yearn to win.

Because this feeling

is the most previous motivation

for an athlete.

Hello?

Do you know what time is it now?

Why did you call me?

My roommates are all asleep.

I miss you.

I miss you too.

Today,

I saw China getting the gold medal.

I want to get the gold medal too.

Cai Wei.

When I saw our flag

being raised up in the sports arena,

I was in veneration and it made me yearned for it.

I don't know how to describe it.

It's like there a fire

burning inside my heart.

In the past, I always talked about winning

and being the champion.

But I didn't know what it means

to be a world champion.

But I know it now.

I, Yu Ke Nan,

will become the world champion.

You will.

Trust me.

Why are you here?

I'm here to visit Master.

My father went out to each with the coaches in your team.

He's drunk

and he's just upstairs.

When did you come back? Why didn't you tell me?

I've been back for a few days.

I have a few friends from abroad.

So, I was busy being their tour guide.

You can bring them to eat bittern flapjack

and drink douzhi.

They won't be able to get used to it.

That's for sure.

Are your friends the ones in the photos

that you've posted online?

No.

Those are from the Welfare Society. It's a school club.

Those who came back with me

are my friends outside of school.

You have quite a lot of friends.

I have quite a few.

Do you have a boyfriend now?

I know why you gave me the CD.

And I know why you gave me the chocolates.

But I'm abroad, right?

So, our lives will be

very different.

So, I...

Stop. Leave me with some pride.

I'll leave now.

Thank you.

Xu Tan.

Gather up.

Gather up.

Hurry up.

Hurry up.

The ones at the back, hurry up.

The player who we've chosen this time is among

the top eight players of the National Games of China last year.

They are powerful players.

Come. Introduce yourself.

Hello, I'm Su Shun

from Beijing Team.

I hope that we can get along with each other

after this.

Mother, I can't go back for Chinese New Year this year.

The World Ping-Pong Tournament is going to start soon.

We still have to train.

Okay.

Ask my father don't drink too much during Chinese New Year.

Okay. I'll hang up now.

Xu Tan.

Long time no see.

Long time no see.

It's been five years since the last

regional training, right?

You are already here for five years.

Why haven't I seen you in any major tournaments?

I'll show you

what I've learnt in the past five years.

Say no more. I'll meet you in the court.

No.

You better make sure that you are not kicked out.

My teammate.

Let's go.

Now,

I'm going to announce

the list of players that'll play in

the Moscow World Table Tennis Championships.

Nie Rui Feng.

Chao Yang.

Ye Zhen Xin.

Xia Ke.

Fu Jing Chun.

For those

who I had called out just now, come with me.

The rest of you are dismissed.

Mr. Zheng.

Have you seen the ranking of the elimination game?

My ranking is higher than Fu Jing Chun.

Why am I not chosen for Moscow?

Let me ask you.

I've asked you to train up your skill to sustain a rally. Have you done that?

No.

But my result

is a proof that I'm qualified for Moscow.

You had just passed him once.

And you think that you are qualified?

The coaching team doesn't make this decision

based on the result of one elimination game.

When you can sustain a rally,

come and ask me again.

I can win even if I don't do as you say.

You don't need to do as I say?

Or do you think that

you don't need me as a coach anymore?

Yu Ke Nan.

Think before you answer.

You are so problematic.

Has no one ever taught you before? I'll teach you then.

Do you think that I'll pamper you?

Fang Yue has already retired.

Now, Rui Feng and Kang Ning

can still lead the team for a while.

But when they are all retired,

our top echelon

will be lacking in players who are good with their forehand.

If you have any potential players in your hand,

hurry up and train them up.

That's it for today.

Zheng Hao.

How's Fu Jing Chun's condition lately?

Quite good.

His leg injury won't affect

the coming competition, right?

Yes. He has almost fully recovered now.

You need to pay more attention to other players too.

I understand.

I asked the four of you to stay behind today

because I want to give you extra training.

Leng Yi, Dong Yu,

Su Shun and Xu Tan.

The four of you have similar style.

All of you are forehand quick attack type with loop drive.

Pair yourselves into two groups

practise your loop with each other.

Both of you team up and use that table.

Both of you will use this table.

Start when you are ready.

How many rounds has it been?

I think around 31 to 32.

Xu Tan is getting better with his attacks now.

Stop.

Both of you, come here.

What's wrong?

You did good.

Come with me.

Not you.

Su Shun, come with me.

Thank you.

I'll train with you more later.

Xu Tan.

Go to table number six to be his training partner.

Mr. Zheng, we have been serving for the whole day.

You should let us train as well.

That's right.

Mr. Zheng.

Why did you ask Xu Tan to be the newbie's training partner?

He didn't lose in that competition.

They are both forehand quick attack with loop drive.

They played for 40 rounds.

In the end,

it'll be a fight of physical strength.

His hand was already shaking in the end.

How could he win?

You can't be sure about that.

You won't know the result until the end.

How can you be a judge of that?

Yu Ke Nan.

If I can't be a judge of that,

do you think you can be the judge of that?

Who do you think you are?

World champion?

Winner of the Grand Slam?

Winner of all the Grand Slam?

You are nothing.

I've seen a lot of

arrogant people like you who are always

talking about winning.

Let me tell you.

Everyone who plays ping pong

wants to be the champion.

You are just one in a million.

With your level now,

let me tell you.

You are so far away

from being the world champion.

Let me tell you now.

As long as I'm still your coach,

with this attitude,

don't ever dream about participating in an international competition.

It's the same for you, Xu Tan.

Until now, you still don't have

any powerful core skill.

You won't be able to survive in the first team.

Think about your own issues

and become an excellent athlete first.

You are only worth my time

when you are an excellent athlete.

Do you understand what I said?

What is it?

Are you going to train or not?

If you don't want to train, get out! Don't waste our time!

Dong Yu, Wang Ping.

Come here.

Let's go.

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I have something to tell you.

What is it?

Stop writing.

These won't help.

What are we going to do then?

Change the coach.

Ping Pong Little Drama

Golden Age

An athlete's golden age.

As the seeded player of the first team,

Fang Yue chose this time to retire

and put the hope of the next

Olympic gold medal on Xu Tan

because he knows that

he has already passed the golden age

of an athlete.

Usually,

the golden age of a ping pong player

is around 17 to 25.

When you are younger,

you'll be lacking in physical strength

and experience.

When you are older,

the condition of your body

will deteriorate.

Ping pong players

are trained up from a young age.

Usually, they'll receive

formal training at the age of five.

They'll train for more than six hours every day.

At around 13,

the better players will enter the provincial team

and at around 16,

they'll enter the national second team.

After that,

those with outstanding results in the second team

will enter the national first team.

And they'll have a chance to participate in

top international competitions.

For example, the Olympics,

Olympics

the World Championships and et cetera.

World Championships

Ping Pong