The night of July 29, Beijing time, is destined to be an extraordinary night. On this summer evening, the Chinese table tennis mixed doubles pair Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha, like two dazzling stars, shined dazzlingly on the court. They lived up to expectations and successfully defeated the Korea team with amazing strength and tacit understanding to successfully advance to the final.
However, what made this game even more exciting was not only the superb skills of the athletes on the field, but also the enthusiastic interaction of the audience off the field. Just as the competition was heating up, a Chinese audience member suddenly turned into a "conductor" and began his "symphony" performance.
I saw this "wild conductor" stand up and wave his hands as if he was conducting a huge symphony orchestra. But his "orchestra member" was not a violinist or cellist, but a somewhat ignorant France volunteer! The Chinese audience used his unique "commanding" style to guide the France brother to cheer for the "Shatou" group.
"Come on, Chinese team! Chinese team Niu X! The Chinese spectator's shouts resounded through the sky, as if they were about to tear down the entire roof of the stadium. And the France volunteer, although he was still a little overwhelmed at first, was quickly infected by this warm atmosphere and began to shout slogans, as if he was "following the customs".
This scene can be called "Ping Pong Diplomacy 2.0 Version", which instantly ignited the atmosphere of the entire arena. The audience erupted in laughter and applause, and even the athletes who were fighting fiercely on the field couldn't help but smile at the corners of their mouths.
This unexpected "Sino-French cultural exchange" quickly sparked heated discussions on social media. Netizens turned into jokers one after another and started a "creative competition". Someone laughed and said: "This France brother is afraid that he will be assimilated, and he will shout 'come on the Chinese team' in his dreams after returning home, right?" Someone else joked: "It seems that our 'ping pong diplomacy' has been upgraded to version 2.0, which can not only bring countries closer, but also eliminate language barriers!" "
More resourceful netizens found a business opportunity: "The talent of this 'wild conductor' should not be buried, and it is recommended that the national team officially hire him as a cheerleader to ensure that the atmosphere of the game is exciting!" "
However, in this sea of joy, we can't help but ask: what kind of magic can make a foreign volunteer who has never known each other hesitate to join the ranks of cheering for the Chinese team?
Perhaps, the answer lies in the allure of sports. Sports, as a universal language that transcends languages, cultures, and national boundaries, can always inadvertently bring people closer together. On this small table tennis court, we see not only the fierce competition, but also the best side of human nature - enthusiasm, friendliness, and tolerance.
And Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, the pair known as "Shatou", seem to be infected by the enthusiasm off the field. They come and go on the table, full of tacit understanding, as if they are playing a moving table tennis concerto with a racket. Every beautiful return, every exquisite save, elicited bursts of cheers from the audience.
In this game, we see not only the strength of Chinese table tennis, but also the charm of Chinese sportsmanship. The Chinese spectators who spontaneously organized cheering, the France volunteers who responded enthusiastically, and the athletes who worked the field, they jointly composed a moving "friendship song".
After the game, the aftermath of this "Ping Pong Diplomacy 2.0" continued. The France volunteer was surrounded by a group of reporters and became an "Internet celebrity". I saw him say in broken Chinese: "Chinese friends are very warm, I am very happy." Ping pong... Belch... Awesome! These words immediately sparked a new round of heated discussions on the Internet, and netizens said: "This France brother is so cute!" "It seems that our cultural export has succeeded again!"
And the "wild conductor" was not idle. He was invited to be a guest on a sports program to share his "conducting" experience. He said with a smile: "I just thought that since I came, I had to make the atmosphere up!" I didn't expect this France brother to be so powerful, a little bit of it! After hearing this, the host quipped: "It seems that you are not only a 'wild conductor', but also a 'wild diplomat'!" "
What's even more laughable is that sharp-eyed netizens discovered that this "wild conductor" turned out to be an executive of a well-known Internet company. As a result, a "recruitment war" quietly unfolded online. Someone joked: "This executive's talent has been buried!" It is recommended that the national team dig directly into the wall and become a full-time cheerleader! Someone else quipped: "No, our company needs him more!" For this contagion, he is definitely a good hand with a team! "
At the same time, the "Shatou" combination of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha has also become a frequent visitor to hot searches. Some attentive fans found that at the most tense moment of the game, Wang Chuqin quietly said to Sun Yingsha: "Don't be nervous, just play downstairs at home." After this small detail was magnified, it triggered another wave of "whoop" admiration. Netizens said: "This is too loving! "Sure enough, it's a tacit combination with a perfect score!"
There are even netizens with "great powers" who picked up the growth process of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, and found that the two have been training together since childhood. As a result, a drama of "childhood sweethearts" was made up by netizens. "Shatou" CP fans came into being, and all kinds of photos in the same frame and training photos were turned out, accompanied by copywriting such as "growing up together since childhood, and now fighting side by side", which instantly exploded on major social platforms.
Of course, there are also sensible voices reminding everyone: "Focusing on their skills is the right thing to do!" But this voice was quickly drowned out by enthusiastic fans with shouts such as "live-action version of "Slam Dunk", "ping pong version of "Full House".
Just when the Internet was bustling, the Chinese Table Tennis Association was not idle. They quickly launched a series of peripheral products with the "Shatou" combination as the protagonist, such as "Shatou custom rackets" and "Shatou co-branded T-shirts", which were sold out as soon as they were put on the shelves. Some netizens ridiculed: "The marketing level of this table tennis association is okay, and they are about to catch up with some of the top traffic star brokerage companies!" "
However, in this sea of joy, we must not forget the essence of sports competition. As one sports commentator put it: "We're happy about the popularity of the 'Shatou', but we should be more concerned about their performance on the field." I hope that everyone can enjoy this relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere while also giving due respect to the hard work of the athletes. "
These words have caused a lot of thought. Someone said, "yes, aren't we a little too entertaining?" Others retorted: "But doesn't that show the charm of sports?" It allows more people to pay attention and get involved. "
In any case, this match, the pair, the "wild conductor", and the France volunteer, together they performed a wonderful "sports + culture + diplomacy" drama. It not only shows the strength of Chinese table tennis, but also shows the infinite charm of sports.
As one netizen said: "Many years later, when we recall this game, we remember not only the wonderful performance of the 'Shatou' group, but also the passionate 'wild conductor' and the 'assimilated' France brother." That's what sport is all about – it turns strangers into friends, breaks down cultural barriers, and brings the world closer together. "
Yes, in this world, what is better than a small table tennis ball to bring people closer to each other? Let us look forward to seeing more such heart-warming and funny scenes in the future arena, so that the spirit of sportsmanship can spread farther and wider in laughter.