In April 1958, the Chinese table tennis team trained in Guangzhou, and Rong Guotuan, who was in Guangzhou, also joined the training team. At a meeting that asked all the trainees to speak out their personal plans, Rong Guotuan spoke amazingly.
Rong Guotuan
Zhuang Jiafu, a former member of the Chinese table tennis team, recalled that Rong Guotuan won the table tennis world championship, and Mr. He personally picked him up at the airport! At the conference, he said that life can have several beats, and he would not be blinded if he did not win the world championship in the 25th World Competition.
The players present at that time were all shocked, thinking that Rong Guotuan was too aggressive. Then China's table tennis men have not yet entered the final circle, how can they suddenly win the world championship?
In 1958, during the Great Leap Forward, almost every industry set itself an unattainable goal, figuratively calling it "satellite release." Rong Guotuan issued a bold statement that he wanted to win the world championship, and many people thought that he was putting satellites.
In September 1958, Rong Guotuan represented Guangzhou in the National Nine Cities Table Tennis Championships, where he defeated the crowd and won the national men's singles championship. As a result, he officially joined the national team and was invited to participate in the 25th World Table Tennis Championships held shortly thereafter.
In the 25th World Table Tennis Championships, China's athletes galloped on the battlefield to show their skills. Rong Guotuan passed the pass and slashed the general, straight to the Dragon Pond. In the final, facing the world's most heavyweight table tennis player at the time, the nine-time world champion Sido, when the other side had prepared flowers to celebrate the victory, Rong Guotuan withstood the pressure and fought hard, and finally defeated the opponent 3:1, as he said at the conference - won the world championship.
Rong Guotuan held the St. Bled Cup in his hand, and countless flowers poured into his arms, surrounding him in the center. When Rong Guotuan and other members of the table tennis team returned with honors, Marshal He Long personally went to the airport to greet them. In the VIP room of the terminal, He Long carefully examined the golden St. Pride Trophy, and the marshal who had been on a horse for a lifetime and had two white sideburns was full of emotions, and he said with tears in his eyes: "Who said that we are the sick men of East Asia, we can still win the world championship Chinese!" ”
Soon after, in a mass parade to celebrate International Labor Day in Tiananmen Square. Thousands of table tennis players perform various batting positions through Tiananmen Square. Table tennis became the pride of the chinese people of that era, and the Chinese table tennis team was invited to Zhongnanhai, and these young table tennis players were received by Chairman Mao and other national leaders.
In those days, there was no material reward for winning a project championship, and the highest honor for athletes was Chairman Mao's handshake and the reception of the central leaders. After being received by Chairman Mao, many people secretly swore in their hearts that they would use the hand that Chairman Mao and his old man had shook to win glory for Chairman Mao and his old man.
As the first world champion in the history of New China, Rong Guotuan also became the "national idol" of that era, according to the memories of his teammates, he was like the popular stars of the moment, as long as he went on the street, someone would recognize him, and even some people would chase after him, because they all wanted to see the style of the world champion.
That is, from this time on, the land of Shenzhou set off an unprecedented ping-pong fever, in many places, primary school students will have such a table tennis racket in their school bags, as long as a class is scattered, before the teacher walks out of the classroom, the children have already flocked out, and a table tennis table competition has begun. At the beginning of the game, everyone wants to win, because whoever wins can not get off the table. The ping-pong ball was accidentally stepped on, it doesn't matter, thrown into boiling water for a dip, restored to its original state, and continued to play.
Just when the Rong Guotuan returned with honors, another good news also came - the 26th World Table Tennis Championships will be held in Beijing in 1961, how will the Chinese team play at home? For more exciting content, please continue to pay attention to the headline number of "Hubei Satellite TV Big Reveal"!