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Maintain youthful vitality
Zheng Minzhi, who is now old, looks much younger than his actual age. Even in her later years, she still retains the tenacity and never-give-up attitude that characterize elite athletes.
Zheng Minzhi's son, Chen Yiqiu, often returned to Shanghai to visit his mother and accompany her through the long years. Although he lost his husband Chen Zude many years ago, Zheng Minzhi chose to face life alone and did not remarry.
She is full of gratitude for life and tirelessly gives back to the community.
After retiring, Zheng Minzhi did not choose to enjoy his old age, but founded his own table tennis club in Shanghai. She regularly hosts influential "Minzhi Cup" table tennis tournaments, which continue to promote the popularity of the sport across the country and around the world.
At the same time, Zheng Minzhi also established friendly and cooperative relations with Macao to jointly organize the "Cup of Shanming Minzhi" table tennis invitational tournament for middle-aged and elderly people.
Someone once commented on Zheng Minzhi: "Even as the years go by, she still maintains the demeanor of a young athlete." Although this table tennis celebrity has entered her old age, she still maintains her due vitality and vitality.
Even in this later life, she is still working hard for her career and contributing to society. Her son, Chen Yiqiu, often returns to Shanghai to visit his mother, giving her endless love and warmth.
Although fate once brought a heavy blow to the family, Zheng Minzhi chose to face it strongly. Although her life has parted ways peacefully with her husband Chen Zude, she still maintains a positive attitude and continues to fight for her career.
This 79-year-old table tennis celebrity is still a model worthy of learning and admiration in today's society.
Even as the years passed, she still had the energy and passion of youth. Zheng Minzhi interprets the sports spirit of "never give up" with his own actions, and proves with his own story that the road of life is not smooth sailing, but as long as you persist and work hard, you will eventually shine with the light of a brave man.
The ups and downs of married life
In 1973, Zheng Minzhi entered the palace of marriage, and her husband was the legendary figure of the Chinese Go world - Chen Zude. At that time, Chen Zude was famous at home and abroad for his outstanding performance in defeating Japanese nine-dan chess players, and enjoyed a high reputation in the Go world.
This seemingly loving couple gradually split on the road of married life. In 1980, Chen Zude was unfortunately diagnosed with stomach cancer, although his condition was relieved after surgery and chemotherapy, he still needed to take regular medication, and his physical condition has been relatively weak.
Zheng Minzhi, who is busy with work, can't spare a lot of time to take care of her sick husband. The needs and ideas of the two are increasingly at odds, and cracks gradually appear in their married life.
In 1989, Zheng Minzhi finally made up her mind, gave up the job opportunity in Beijing, chose to return to Shanghai, and sincerely asked her husband to return home together.
However, Chen Zude's reluctance to leave Beijing eventually led to the couple's divorce. The breakdown of this marriage undoubtedly brought a heavy blow to Zheng Minzhi's life.
Although after the divorce, Zheng Minzhi did not renew the relationship, but chose to face the challenges of life alone. However, fate still brought more tests to the family.
In 2012, Chen Zude unfortunately died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 68. This undoubtedly made Zheng Minzhi, who was still reminiscing about the past, feel deep pain again.
This former table tennis celebrity has experienced too many ups and downs in his married life. From the time she was with her husband, to the later estrangement, divorce, and then to the death of her husband, these waves of life undoubtedly left a deep imprint on Zheng Minzhi's soul.
Although marriage did not bring happiness to the sports star, she still chose to face the changes in life with a peaceful mind. Even in the pain of losing her husband in her later years, Zheng Minzhi did not choose to mourn for the rest of her life, but continued to contribute to the society in her own way.
Her son, Chen Yiqiu, often returns to Shanghai to visit his mother, giving Zheng Minzhi endless love and warmth. This family affection may be the source of strength that supports this table tennis celebrity through the trough of life.
Even though the years have flown by, Zheng Minzhi still maintains a positive and optimistic attitude, showing the temperament and demeanor that a senior athlete should have.
Glory days
Zheng Minzhi was born in a family of table tennis, and under the careful guidance of his father, he began to contact and love the sport from an early age. With her excellent skills and tenacity, she won table tennis tournaments in Jing'an District and Shanghai when she was a teenager.
In 1958, at the age of 13, Zheng Minzhi was drafted into the Shanghai table tennis team and began her brilliant career.
In 1960, Zheng Minzhi was favored by the General Administration of Sports of the People's Republic of China and was selected into the national training team. Although she was unable to participate in the 26th World Table Tennis Championships that year due to her young age, she continued to improve in subsequent training and competitions, and gradually won high recognition from coaches and leaders.
In the 27th World Table Tennis Championships in 1963, Zheng Minzhi and her partner Zhang Xielin achieved good results in the mixed doubles competition, making her name enter the world table tennis stage for the first time.
Two years later, at the 28th World Table Tennis Championships, Zheng Minzhi and his teammates won the team championship with outstanding performance, which was the first World Table Tennis Championships team championship in the history of Chinese women's table tennis.
In this competition, Zheng Minzhi not only made important contributions in the team competition, but also shined in the individual competition.
Although in the 31st World Table Tennis Championships in 1971, the national table tennis women's team unfortunately only won the runner-up due to the long-term failure to train systematically, Zheng Minzhi still won the championship and runner-up in the women's doubles and women's singles events with her outstanding performance.
She lived up to the coach's high expectations for her and became a banner in the Chinese table tennis world.
In 1973, Zheng Minzhi retired with honor and devoted himself to table tennis coaching. She has successively cultivated famous athletes such as Dai Lili and Tong Ling, and was promoted to deputy director of the Second Department of Training and Competition of the National Sports Commission in the mid-1980s, making important contributions to the national sports cause.
Zheng Minzhi's road to table tennis has not been easy, and she suffered major setbacks when she was a teenager. In 1958, at the age of 13, she was drafted into the Shanghai table tennis team, but was turned away due to lung injuries caused by overwork.
Fortunately, she was appreciated by Chen Wenbiao, the principal of Shanghai Jing'an District Sports School, and was invited to join the sports school, where she continued to study while recovering her physical condition, and finally returned to the Shanghai table tennis team.
In 1960, Zheng Minzhi became a member of the national training team, although she failed to appear in the 26th World Table Tennis Championships that year, but this valuable experience made her growth process more colorful.
In the subsequent competitions, she won a number of honors for the Chinese team at the 27th and 28th World Table Tennis Championships with her outstanding performance.
Especially in the team competition of the 28th World Table Tennis Championships, Zheng Minzhi showed leadership at critical moments. Facing the strong Japanese team, she and her teammates worked together to finally sweep the opponent with a score of 3:0 and win the team competition.
Since then, Zheng Minzhi has become a banner in the Chinese table tennis world, attracting the attention of coaches and fans.
Although in the women's singles semifinals of the 31st World Table Tennis Championships, her contest with Japanese star Naoko Fukatsu ended in regret, Zheng Minzhi did not give up, but continued to work hard, and finally won the women's doubles championship and women's singles runner-up.
Jung's career came to an end, but she didn't enjoy her old age after retiring. On the contrary, she actively devoted herself to the work of table tennis coaching, cultivated a group of outstanding athletes for the Chinese table tennis world, and made important contributions to the national sports cause.
This table tennis celebrity uses his deeds to interpret the sports spirit of never giving up, and has won wide praise from all walks of life.
The road to table tennis
Zheng Minzhi's road to table tennis was not all smooth sailing, she experienced many setbacks, but in the end, she became a dazzling star in the Chinese table tennis world with her tenacity and talent.
In 1958, 13-year-old Zheng Minzhi was drafted into the Shanghai table tennis team, but was turned away due to lung injuries caused by overwork. Fortunately, she was appreciated by Chen Wenbiao, the principal of Shanghai Jing'an District Sports School, and was invited to join the sports school, where she continued to study while recovering her physical condition, and finally returned to the Shanghai table tennis team.
In 1960, Zheng Minzhi was fortunate to be a member of the national training team, but due to his young age, he failed to appear in the 26th World Table Tennis Championships that year. However, this valuable experience has enriched her growth journey.
In the subsequent competitions, Zheng Minzhi won a number of honors for the Chinese team at the 27th and 28th World Table Tennis Championships with his outstanding performance.
It is worth mentioning that in the team competition of the 28th World Table Tennis Championships, Zheng Minzhi showed leadership at a critical moment. Facing the strong Japanese team, she and her teammates worked together to finally sweep the opponent with a score of 3:0 and win the team competition.
Since then, Zheng Minzhi has become a banner in the Chinese table tennis world, attracting the attention of coaches and fans.
However, Jung's highlight moment was not all smooth sailing. In the women's singles semifinals of the 31st World Table Tennis Championships, she had a very fierce competition with Japanese star Naoko Fukatsu.
Zheng Minzhi once led 19:17 at a critical moment, but was eventually reversed by Naoko Fukatsu and missed the final. This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Zheng Minzhi, but she did not give up and continued to work hard, and finally won the women's doubles championship and the women's singles runner-up.
Although Zheng Minzhi's career came to an end, she did not enjoy her old age after retiring. On the contrary, she actively devoted herself to the work of table tennis coaching, cultivated a group of outstanding athletes, and injected new vitality into the Chinese table tennis world.
Zheng Minzhi's hard work and perseverance have also won her wide praise from all walks of life.
From a girl to an adult, Zheng Minzhi's table tennis road is full of ups and downs. She has experienced many setbacks, but in the end, she has become a dazzling star in the Chinese table tennis world with her diligence and talent.
Even when she faced setbacks at the peak of her career, she didn't give up and continued to work hard, eventually achieving excellent results.
After retiring, Zheng Minzhi also worked tirelessly, she devoted herself to the work of table tennis coaching, cultivated a group of outstanding athletes for the country, and won wide praise from all walks of life.
She used her deeds to interpret the spirit of never giving up sports, and became a model for future generations to learn.
Witness to ping-pong diplomacy
Zheng Minzhi's table tennis career has not only made outstanding achievements in China, but also witnessed an important moment in China's table tennis diplomacy.
In 1971, during the 31st World Table Tennis Championships, Graham, president of the United States Table Tennis Association, led a U.S. delegation to visit China, opening the prelude to Sino-US table tennis diplomacy.
The first U.S. delegation to visit China since the founding of the People's Republic of China was given a grand welcome by the All-China Sports Federation. As the main force of the Chinese table tennis team, Zheng Minzhi personally participated in this historic exchange activity.
The following year, the Chinese and U.S. governments issued the China-U.S. Shanghai Communiqué, which further deepened the friendship and mutual trust between the two countries. In 1973, the Chinese table tennis delegation visited the United States for the first time and was warmly welcomed by the American people.
The wonderful performance of Zheng Minzhi and his teammates has also promoted friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American people to a certain extent.
It is worth mentioning that during this visit to the United States, Zheng Minzhi and his teammates came into contact with the unfamiliar buffet culture for the first time. At that time, China had not yet formed the habit of buffets, so when they saw a variety of food on the table, they took out their own plastic fruit models and tasted them, which surprised the locals.
Such an episode has also become an unforgettable memory for Zheng Minzhi.
From 1971 to 1973, table tennis, a seemingly ordinary sport, became a link between the people of China and the United States in a special historical period. As the main force of the Chinese table tennis team, Zheng Minzhi was fortunate to witness this period of significant history.
She deeply felt that even an ordinary athlete could be an important force for world peace.
This experience undoubtedly left a deep mark on Zheng Minzhi's life path. Even though she has been retired for many years, she still feels a lot of emotion when she talks about this past, and tears flicker in her eyes.
Zheng Minzhi is a witness to this moment of history and a participant, which is undoubtedly the most precious memory of her life.
The historic Sino-US table tennis exchange event in 1971 became an important moment in Zheng Minzhi's career. As the main force of the Chinese table tennis team, she personally participated in this grand event and witnessed the important role played by table tennis in this special period.
Since then, table tennis has not only become a sport, but also an important link to promote the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.
Even after retiring for many years, when Zheng Minzhi recalls this past, he will still be full of emotion. She was a witness and participant in this historic moment, which is undoubtedly one of the most precious memories of her life.
This experience not only enriched her life course, but also made this table tennis celebrity more grateful for her dedication and efforts.