(Source: All content stated in this article is based on reliable sources, and is repeated at the end of the article)
Preamble:
In the table tennis world in the 90s of the last century, there was such a player, he was named the "secret weapon", and he defeated foreign celebrities at the 43rd World Table Tennis Championships and helped Chinese men's table tennis win the gold medal in the men's team, he is Ding Song.
However, before Ding Song became famous, his table tennis road was bumpy, and when he achieved results and could enjoy life, his wife filed for divorce from him.
So, how strong was Ding Song when he was at his peak, and how did he live after the divorce?
Ding-hsien
A bumpy road to ping-pong
In 1995, Hu Meidi couldn't help crying when she watched the fierce table tennis match on TV, she didn't know table tennis at all, but one of the men who played was her son Ding Song, who had not seen her for six years.
Ding Song's mother and sister (source network)
In 1971, Hu Meidi gave birth to him, their family was in Shanghai, but they lived in a simple small house, he liked table tennis since he was a child, and at the age of 8, his dream came true and entered the sports school to study Xi.
Ding-hsien
At that time, Ding Song's face was full of excitement, and his parents were sad, although they also had jobs, but their income could only barely survive, for the sake of their children, they could only tighten their belts again.
Ding Song instructed the children to practice Xi table tennis
Ding Song is the age of growing up, and every day when Hu Meidi picks him up, she always brings two home-made steamed buns to satisfy her stomach, while other classmates eat soft bread.
Whenever this happens, Hu Meidi will have endless melancholy in her heart, the two steamed buns are already the best things they can come up with, Ding Song knows the situation at home, so he has never asked for those things.
Ding-hsien
On the way back, Hu Meidi thought a lot, she didn't know table tennis, but she hoped that her son could get ahead, however, Ding Song's table tennis road was not smooth.
Ding Song (left)
That year, the city sports school began to recruit people, and Ding Song happily signed up, but in a group of burly athletes, his thin figure was a little out of place.
Moreover, Ding Song's test results were not satisfactory, so many leaders directly ignored him and began to look for students with more potential.
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Fortunately, two teachers knew something about Ding Song at that time, so they recommended it to the leader and explained in detail Ding Song's rare style of play, and finally he walked into the door of the city sports school in 1982.
Shanghai Sports School
Ding Song cherished this opportunity very much, so he worked very hard in his usual training, and the sweat he shed on the training ground was not in vain, and he won the national junior singles championship in 1986.
He won the championship at that time, which left a deep impression on many table tennis people, and at the end of that year, he became a member of the national team.
Ding-hsien
However, once the original plan was to let Ding Song go abroad to compete, but suddenly replaced him again, which made Ding Song a little disappointed, and finally violated some rules.
And this became the "straw" that "crushed" Ding Song, and in 1988, he was returned to the provincial team.
Ding-hsien
The failure in his career has made Ding Song frowning, and the news of his father's death is even worse, although the father and son rarely communicate, but the warmth brought to him by his father can no longer be felt.
Ding-hsien
In addition, a man later walked into his family, which made it even more difficult for him to accept, so after simply cleaning up, he left the house, perhaps he didn't expect that this farewell would take 6 years.
Ding-hsien
During the time when Ding Song left, the results of Shanghai men's table tennis fell to the bottom, and when Lu Yuansheng was ordered to reorganize, the first thing he thought of was Ding Song.
Lu Yuansheng
Create brilliance
When Lu Yuansheng returned to Shanghai before, he had heard the name of "Little Lu Yuansheng", and many friends at that time mentioned Ding Song in front of him, the little boy with glasses, and his chipping skills were somewhat similar to him.
So Lu Yuansheng personally watched Ding Song's game, only to find that what his friend said was true, and the fate between the two was concluded.
Lu Yuansheng and Ding Song
Later, he personally found Ding Song and told the other party that he could go to the canteen to eat, at that time, Ding Song was dismissed, and the canteen no longer provided him with food, and now Lu Yuansheng's words made him see hope.
Lu Yuansheng (right)
After resuming training, Ding Song put all his energy into it, and Lu Yuansheng "opened a small stove" for him, and his progress in table tennis was rapid.
Lu Yuansheng
In 1990, Ding Song participated in the championship, even though he met many famous players, it became a stepping stone for him to glory, and finally helped the Shanghai team get the 6th place.
Ding-hsien
Later, Ding Song "returned" to the national team with excellent results, which brought a lot of confidence to Lu Yuansheng, and he immediately decided to take Ding Song to the international arena to temper himself, but the result was unexpected.
Ding-hsien
Not only did Ding Song have no chance of winning against the first-rate players, but he also did not have the upper hand in the fight against the second-rate players, and in the end he became a little confused.
Table tennis competition (scenario simulation)
In the 1993 National Games, Ding Song stopped in the top 16, which made him even more impatient, and even had the idea of returning to the provincial team.
Ding-hsien
But Lu Yuansheng did not give up, he suggested that Ding Song try Zhengjiao, personally took him to explore, after more than half a year of hard work, Ding Song's new style of play has begun to take shape.
In the competition between Ding Song and his teammates, it seemed that his playing style had not changed much, but they felt very awkward when receiving the ball, and with such feedback, Lu Yuansheng knew that this was the right way.
Ding-hsien
In May 1994, Ding Song, who had been silent for two years, "reappeared", he and Zhang Ling cooperated to win the mixed doubles championship, and won the runner-up in August.
In October of that year, the Chinese men's table tennis team was dominated by young players to participate in the World Cup, and the reason why Ding Song was able to participate was to try how lethal this "secret weapon" was.
Ding-hsien
Ding Song's first opponent was Xiao Saifu, who had beaten him by half a chip, but in this encounter, Ding Song directly played 3:0, and this peculiar style of play immediately attracted the attention of countless people.
Ding Song Ball Game Analysis
Whether it is the "world's No. 2 chipper" star Kim Taek-so, or the top arc master Rothkopf and others, they all became Ding Song's subordinates, and finally he stood on the men's singles champion and cheered loudly.
Ding Song and Cai Zhenhua
You must know that the last time Chinese men's table tennis stood in this position was in 1989, and this victory not only reshaped the glory of men's table tennis, but also added infinite confidence to Ding Song.
Ding Song (left)
In 1995, Ding Song appeared at the World Table Tennis Championships with heavy expectations on his shoulders, and he was placed in the third position in the team, just to let him compete for a key point.
Ding-hsien
The first two games are one loss and one win, and the third game is the battle between Ding Song and Karlsson, the other party is not only the main force of Swedish men's table tennis, but also has won 3 team championships, and its strength should not be underestimated.
Karlsson
In the face of the opponent's sharp attack, Ding Song calmly responded with his peculiar style of play, on the other hand, Karlsson's face was already full of solemnity, and finally Ding Song lived up to expectations and won this crucial point.
The scene of teammates getting excited after scoring key points
Since then, Ding Song's table tennis road has been smooth, winning several gold medals one after another, until 1997, when he chose to retire and return to his family.
Ding-hsien
The future of life
For Ding Song, the 1995 competition not only won the men's team championship, but also helped him find love.
The Chinese men's table tennis team held the championship trophy high
After the game, Ding Song was interviewed by a reporter, and the other party's appearance and temperament were deeply attracted to him, and after some inquiry, he learned that the other party's name was Gao Jing, who was engaged in financial work.
Under Ding Song's pursuit, they became a family after half a year of love.
The Chinese men's table tennis team held the championship trophy high
Later, Ding Song went abroad to play, and Gao Jing chose to follow, because her husband's income was enough to maintain the family's expenses, so she stayed at home.
In fact, there is another reason why Gao Jing does not go out to work, that is, she does not speak the local language and is too lazy to learn, so she takes care of her husband's daily life at home.
Ding Song (right)
But this made her feel insecure, so she would have a lot of constraints on Ding Song, and slowly, they quarreled with each other, and finally separated completely in 2001.
Ding-hsien
In 2003, Ding Song's homesickness could no longer be suppressed and chose to return to China, and later he played against some famous table tennis players, but still ended in a big victory.
Ding-hsien
In 2007, he successfully became a physical education teacher at Shanghai Jiaotong University, and under his guidance, Shanghai Jiaotong University won the men's team championship in the Summer Games of Shanghai Jiaotong University four times.
Ding Song and students at Shanghai Jiaotong University
Today, Ding Song is 52 years old, but he is still dedicating his strength in the field of table tennis.
Ding Song took a group photo with the children
Epilogue:
Ding Song's table tennis road was full of ups and downs, he finally overcame family difficulties to go to a sports school, and almost didn't enter the gate of the city sports school, but fortunately, with the recommendation of two teachers, he was able to continue his table tennis dream.
Later, he relied on hard work and coach's guidance to shine in table tennis and became the most dazzling "table tennis star" at the end of the last century.
However, fate always seems to love to play tricks on him, and his wife also left him after he retired, but these did not make Ding Song slump, and he is still active in the table tennis world.
Bibliography:
I give Ding Song as a coach[J].Sports World,1996,(06):43-44.
Zhou Guoqiang,Hong Nanli.How the Rising Star Rises——Ding Song and His Coaches[J].China Sports Coaches,1995,(02):47.)
Zhang Wei Ding Song,A lonely pine[J].Sports World,1995,(08):22-24.