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By Michael Reff
Press Committee Chair
Table tennis is poetry in motion when played at the elite level, a jaw-dropping spectator sport. But time and time again in its rich history, this riveting Olympic sport has also been a powerful diplomatic device instrumental in easing tensions between nations.
1971’s Ping Pong Diplomacy was a shining example of this promotion of peace and communication amongst China and the USA (an event briefly highlighted in the Oscar-winning film, “Forrest Gump”). Also, in 1991, the North and South Korean table tennis teams combined as a united front, an event which was the historical basis for the South Korean movie “As One.”
(Featured in picture: Left is Ding Ning and Right is Jie Lu; Photo credit to Xuhong Shi.)
Fast forward to 2023, and within NCTTA’s #loudnproud ranks has emerged a college team whereby several of their members will embark on a smaller scale, but similar quest to China to have a cultural and historical exchange.
Six players of the division-winning, University of Virginia’s table tennis team along with six other UVA students will participate in a fully funded journey to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.
So, how did this all get started? Of course, there are many donors and professors to thank on the planning end to get a curriculum and itinerary in place. However, the one to get the proverbial ball rolling is none other than UVA’s club president Jie Lu.
A senior majoring in commerce, Lu comes from a strong table tennis background having started at age 8 and has also assisted her father in operational activities at his table tennis club NOVA TTC. She took the reins of the UVA TTC’s presidency as a sophomore and has been steadily growing its club ever since.
“I’ve been working really hard for the past 2 years to bring more awareness to the club,” Lu, said.
Well, all her hard work paid off, after a highlight video featuring Lu advertised the UVA club and its multiple benefits to the university. Global Affairs professors decided to customize a potential winter curriculum for a trip to China with part of the club and other students.
Lu noted, “One of our Global Affairs’ vice presidents said he thought it would be a great opportunity for both UVA students and diplomatic relationships to do this trip.” Lu also alluded to the 1971 Ping Pong Diplomacy and how that has played a big factor in this unique course.
Thus, Lu and the team are extremely excited to commence table tennis and other tourist attractions come January 2, 2024. But in the meantime, on the domestic front and by happenstance, Chinese students from Peking University recently attended a DC Ping Pong Diplomacy event which Lu and her father were invited to by none other than Liu Wei, a table tennis world champion! Also in attendance were original Ping Pong Diplomacy USA members Connie and Dell Sweeris. Finally, grand slam winner Ding Ning made an appearance, showing off her trademark tomahawk serve!
Lu said she was “fortunate enough” for her chance to play in a double’s exhibition match with some of the Peking University table tennis players. This experience, albeit occurring merely by coincidence, helps prepare Lu for how her own UVA excursion will work upon arrival in China.
Lu has numerous goals for the China trip, but a major one is to see how her skills match up against her Chinese counterparts at the universities which they will be playing.
Regarding goals for her club, she believes that this trip will have a positive outcome in advertising college table tennis at her university. She says there’s “media attention in both America and China. This will make the club more seen. Especially in UVA but also around the country.”
Kudos to Jie Lu, team UVA, and UVA’s Global Affairs professors and donors for making the trip a reality!
There will be a second part of this story to follow up upon UVA TTC’s return to the States.
Click Here for their highlight videos!
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