On an early morning in Beijing in February 2013, the sky was overcast and the breeze was blowing the withered yellow leaves of the streets, adding a touch of solemnity to this special day.
On that day, it was the memorial service of table tennis legend Zhuang Zedong, a day that marked the end of an era.
The memorial service was held in a modest and solemn auditorium in Beijing, where people from all walks of life, whether they were close friends of Zhuang Zedong, his followers, or ordinary people who knew him through screens.
Zhuang Zedong, an athlete who has sweated countless times on the table tennis court and won glory, is also a warrior who fought cancer tenaciously in the last years of his life.
His story, like a fierce game in his life, is full of ups and downs and suspense.
Even at the end of his life, he remained optimistic and positive, showing incredible courage and strength.
Zhuang Zedong: From a table tennis boy to the glory of the country
Zhuang Zedong's career began with his endless love for table tennis. Even after leaving the Children's Palace in 2000, his life remained closely linked to the sport.
Reluctant to leave the field, he turned his passion for table tennis into motivation to cultivate a new generation.
After retirement, Zhuang Zedong did not choose a comfortable life, but actively devoted himself to the promotion of table tennis and talent training. His fame and experience became his most valuable assets.
Having worked in the sports industry for many years, Zhuang Zedong has established good relationships with many enterprises. He used these resources to plan and organize a series of table tennis training and competition activities, aiming to discover and nurture more table tennis talents.
In this process, Zhuang Zedong is not satisfied with just providing training opportunities, he is more deeply involved in the growth of each young player.
He often personally supervised the training, selflessly passing on his experience to these young people.
Zhuang Zedong's unique training method, combined with rigorous technical training and all-round development of physical fitness, has enabled many young players to significantly improve their skills and tactics.
Zhuang Zedong's efforts were not in vain. Under his careful guidance, many young players have not only achieved excellent results in table tennis, but also excelled academically.
Among them, some students have successfully been admitted to top universities such as Tsinghua University and Peking University by virtue of their dual advantages in table tennis and academics.
This is undoubtedly a huge pride and satisfaction for Zhuang Zedong.
In the table tennis training class, Zhuang Zedong not only teaches skills, but also pays more attention to cultivating students' character and spirit.
He often said: "Table tennis is not just a sport, it is a way of life, a manifestation of the spirit." ”
He encouraged the students to show a fighting spirit on the field, while also being humble and hardworking in life.
Under the influence of Zhuang Zedong, his students have not only achieved results in table tennis, but also their outlook on life and values have been positively shaped.
Many students mentioned in their post-match interviews that it was Coach Zhuang Zedong's influence on them that taught them how to stay calm under pressure and how not to give up in the face of difficulties.
It is this kind of comprehensive cultivation and far-reaching influence that has made Zhuang Zedong's reputation in the sports world increasingly outstanding. These achievements of his also attracted the attention of the education department.
In view of his outstanding contribution to the field of physical education, Zhuang Zedong was officially invited to join the education department as a special teacher. In this new role, his influence was spread more widely.
Zhuang Zedong's illness and tenacity
In 2008, Zhuang Zedong's life took a huge turn. After being diagnosed with malignant rectal cancer, the once glamorous figure on the table tennis court faced unprecedented challenges.
The severity of his condition forced him to undergo multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, which not only took a huge toll on his body, but also put a heavy financial burden on his family.
Faced with high medical bills, Zhuang Zedong considered raising money by selling his precious calligraphy works. These works are not only the embodiment of his artistic talent, but also carry his personal emotions and history.
However, this decision of his was dissuaded by his wife, Atsuko Sasaki. Atsuko Sasaki is well aware of the importance of Zhuang's calligraphy works to him, and she insists that they are spiritual treasures that cannot be measured in monetary terms, and should not be given up lightly in difficult times.
Zhuang Zedong once used his calligraphy works and salary to donate 300,000 yuan for the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a move that has been widely praised in society. This generosity reflects his deep sense of social responsibility and deep sympathy for the people in the disaster area.
However, when faced with his own difficulties, he remained humble and self-reliant, unwilling to burden others.
During the treatment, Zhuang Zedong experienced countless difficult days and nights. His body was gradually consumed by illness and side effects of treatment, but he always maintained a strong will.
The pain of surgery and chemotherapy turned his life almost completely upside down, but he didn't give up.
Even in the most difficult moments, he maintained a normal life as much as possible, trying to find a sense of normalcy in life amid illness and pain.
Zhuang Zedong's family and friends have given him tremendous support and love during this difficult time. Their companionship and encouragement became a strong backing for him to fight the disease.
Atsuko Sasaki played an important role in particular, not only as Zhuang Zedong's wife, but also as an important spiritual pillar during his illness.
The stubbornness of life and the benevolence of the healer
As time passed, Zhuang Zedong's condition continued to deteriorate, his physical strength became weaker and weaker, and in the face of this situation, even the most tenacious will could not resist the invasion of the disease.
During this difficult period, he was admitted to the hospital several times for treatment, during which his physical condition became extremely dangerous, and even made him consider euthanasia.
But even so, the doctors in charge of his treatment did not pass up any chance to treat him.
The doctors and nursing team at the hospital have put a lot of energy and emotion into Zhuang Zedong's treatment. They are well aware of Zhuang Zedong's status and influence in the table tennis world and even the entire sports world, and they are also aware of his contributions to society.
Therefore, they spared no effort to provide him with the best medical conditions and care services. Whenever Zhuang Zedong was admitted to the hospital for treatment, the doctors would carefully study his condition and formulate the most appropriate treatment plan.
On the operating table, the doctors performed surgery after operation for him with superb medical skills and deep professional knowledge. Outside of surgery, the nurses are constantly busy around him, providing him with attentive care.
Every day Zhuang Zedong spent in the hospital, he was accompanied by doctors and nurses. They are not just providing him with medical care, more often than not, they are by his side like friends, talking to him, trying to make his life in the hospital not too boring and lonely.
In this process, the respect and care of doctors and nurses for Zhuang Zedong is not only due to his social status, but also out of respect and sympathy for a strong patient.
Despite the best efforts of doctors and nurses, Mr. Zhuang's condition continued to deteriorate. As time went on, his health deteriorated, and every operation and treatment seemed to be unable to stop the spread of the disease.
In such a situation, doctors are beginning to explore more treatments, hoping to find new ways to slow the progression of the disease. But unfortunately, the malignancy of rectal cancer and its damage to the body have gone beyond the scope of medical treatment.
After years of fighting cancer, Zhuang Zedong's flame of life was finally extinguished in 2013.
After the news broke, it shook the entire sports world and made countless people who admired him feel deep sorrow.
The doctors and nurses in the hospital, although they were used to seeing life and death, still felt extremely sad and reluctant at the moment of Zhuang Zedong's death.
A lifetime of glory and farewell
Zhuang Zedong's life is indeed a legend. He has grown from a teenager with a passion for table tennis to a national champion, and his life path has been filled with countless glory and challenges.
However, just as his career was at its peak, he was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer.
For the next ten years, he struggled with this relentless disease. His strength and perseverance are deeply admired by all who know him.
After the news of Zhuang Zedong's death came out, many people felt very shocked and sad. At his memorial service, people from all walks of life gathered to remember this great athlete and brave fighter.
On this sad occasion, Zhuang Zedong's two wives attended the memorial service, and their arrival not only represents respect and memory for past feelings, but also reflects deep respect for Zhuang Zedong and his life.
Relatives and friends came to pay their last respects to Zhuang Zedong. They either stood in the corner of the memorial service and mourned silently, or walked to the front to share the time and memories spent with Zhuang Zedong. Everyone's face is full of nostalgia and reluctance for this great athlete.
They recalled Zhuang Zedong's demeanor on the table tennis court, talked about his life and the amazing courage and strength he showed in the fight against cancer.
In addition, the well-known host Chen Luyu also appeared at the memorial service. As a media person who has interviewed Zhuang Zedong, Chen Luyu has a deep impression of Zhuang Zedong.
When recalling Zhuang Zedong, she said that although Zhuang Zedong is a name in history, his life experience and achievements are so admirable.
Zhuang Zedong is not only an outstanding table tennis player, but also a person who has shown amazing courage and strong will in the face of adversity. His story is not only a legend in the world of sports, but also a role model for life and spirit.
Zhuang Zedong's lifestyle and his strong will in the face of challenges have had a profound impact on future generations. He taught people to stay optimistic and face life's challenges positively, even in the most difficult moments.
His experience inspires everyone who faces adversity, whether in sports or beyond. Zhuang Zedong's story has become an eternal light in the history of Chinese table tennis, shining on the path of latecomers.
Resources:
- Zhang Ni Zhuang Zedong's table tennis career[J].Lantai World(First),2014(3):129-130