In the world of table tennis, Kong Linghui's name was once synonymous with brilliance.
His story, like an epic of ups and downs, is full of passion, glory, frustration and rebirth.
Today, let's walk into the life of this "Prince of Ping Pong" and feel his glory and challenges, as well as those untold stories behind the scenes.
Childhood table tennis dreams
Kong Linghui, a name that has formed an indissoluble bond with table tennis since childhood.
His father, Kong Xiangzhi, is the coach of the Heilongjiang Provincial Table Tennis Team, which made Kong Linghui grow up in the world of table tennis since he was a child.
Having started training at the age of six, joining the national youth team at the age of 12 and winning his first championship at the age of 14, his table tennis career seemed destined to be extraordinary.
In 1975, Kong Linghui was born in Heilongjiang Province in a family with a strong table tennis atmosphere. His father, Kong Xiangzhi, was the coach of the provincial team, which made Kong Linghui immersed in the world of table tennis since he was a child.
While the other children were still playing with mud, Kong Linghui was already sweating on the table tennis table. His childhood was spent with table tennis rackets and balls, and it was a more determined challenge after repeated failures.
The edge of the teenage years is beginning to emerge
Kong's talent and hard work led him to join the national youth team at the age of 12 and win his first title at the age of 14. His skills and desire to win allowed him to show his extraordinary potential at a young age.
During his time in the national youth team, Kong Linghui not only improved his skills, but also cultivated his will to persevere. His goal is clear and determined: to become a table tennis world champion and an Olympic champion.
Brilliant achievements in the career
In 1991, Kong Linghui was transferred to the national team's first-team squad and began a brilliant chapter in his career. In the national team, together with Liu Guoliang and other teammates, he has won numerous honors for the Chinese table tennis team.
In 1995, Kong Linghui defeated teammate Liu Guoliang at the 43rd World Table Tennis Championships and won his first world championship title. Since then, he has gone on to win the World Table Tennis Championships in 1995, the World Cup and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, achieving the feat of Grand Slam.
Transforming coaches to nurture the next generation
In 2006, Kong Linghui announced his retirement, but he did not leave table tennis. He transitioned into a women's table tennis coach, passing on his experience and skills to a new generation of athletes. Under his guidance, the women's table tennis team rose rapidly, and Kong Linghui's name was once again closely linked to the glory of Chinese table tennis.
Success is not all smooth sailing
However, Kong's success has not been without its challenges. In the training of the national youth team, he felt lost because he was training with older children, but his spirit of not admitting defeat made him work harder.
He practiced for two hours a day, and when he returned home, he was coached by his father, and this high-intensity training allowed his skills to improve rapidly.
At the age of thirteen, he wrote in his diary: "My dream is to be a table tennis world champion and an Olympic champion!" This strong will eventually helped him achieve the Grand Slam honor.
After retiring, Kong Linghui did not leave table tennis, but transformed into a women's table tennis coach and cultivated outstanding athletes such as Liu Shiwen. However, a gambling incident in 2017 took a dramatic turn in the trajectory of his life.
Singapore casinos recovered nearly 2 million yuan in arrears, Kong Linghui was suspended by the Table Tennis Association, although he explained that a friend bet in his name, but the storm of public opinion has not calmed.