This ping-pong ball will shine – a side note in the Visually Impaired Group of the National Paralympics Table Tennis Competition

Xinhua News Agency, Xi'an, 27 October Title: This ping-pong ball will shine

——Side note of the Visual Disability Group of the National Special Olympics Table Tennis Competition

Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Hao Zheng Xin

Tianjin team player Li Haoran wore a black eye mask, touched the table tennis desk to determine the standing position, leaned down to the upper body almost parallel to the table table, adjusted the angle of the racket and table tennis, prepared to go, and shouted "serve". After hearing your opponent respond with a "yes", quickly knock the ball out. Whoops, whoops, whoops... Special ping-pong balls make a sound as they roll.

In the National Paralympics table tennis competition being held at the Shaanxi Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, there is a fierce competition for "being alone in one room", which is the visual disability group. Because athletes need to "listen to the ball", there are extremely high requirements for the quietness of the field environment. A separate room, a special table, coaches to guide the techniques and tactics, referees to award points, volunteers to pick up the ball and hand the ball, in addition, there is no other on the scene, no cheers or applause.

"Blind table tennis is based on the sound of the racket hitting the ball and the ball rolling on the table to let the opponent judge the direction, distance and strength of the ball, and let the ball pass under the net, so it is also called 'listening to the position of the table tennis'." Wang Dazhong, one of the first blind table tennis referees in China, said that the project originated in Japan since 1933, and in April 2008, a Japanese blind delegation came to Beijing for exchanges, and Wang Dazhong was invited to participate in training and study and serve as a referee in a friendly match. Soon, table tennis for the blind was popularized among blind schools across the country and became a group of the National Para table tennis championships in 2010. Today, table tennis for the blind has been included in national competitions ten times.

Blind table tennis is no different from ordinary table tennis balls, both are 40 mm in diameter, special is built into 4 metal balls, which make a sound when rolling. In the hearts of blind athletes, this little silver ball will not only make a sound, but also "glow", illuminating their life path in the dark.

Li Haoran, 28, has 11 years of experience and has won the top three in national competitions many times. Previously, he spent most of his time outside of the competition doing TCM massage work. "Blind table tennis gives me more possibilities." Li Haoran said, "When most of the students can only engage in blind massage professions, table tennis has illuminated a different life path for me. ”

Chongqing coach Xu Shangzong is also a teacher at the Chongqing Special Education Center. In his view, blind table tennis gives many students who are afraid to participate in sports activities more of a way of fitness, which not only brings joy to students, but also improves their reaction ability, and also allows them to make judgments and choices quickly no matter what they do.

At the National Paralympic Games, the Chongqing team sent only one athlete to the table tennis competition — 16-year-old Cai Xiaoxue, who is still a sophomore. Although she did not win the medal in the end, she did not show any loss, because table tennis has brought her health, happiness, friendship, confidence and hope, which makes her very satisfied.

"Practicing serve is very important, there will be repeated mistakes, in this mistake, tempered my will, I know that as long as I am willing to work hard and find the right way, I will be able to succeed!" 」 Cai Xiaoxue, who had a childish face, told reporters with a smile that after practicing table tennis for a year, there was also an unexpected gain: self-confidence and willpower have been greatly improved, and academic performance has also jumped from the middle and lower reaches of the class to the upstream.

Although there is no spectator, the blind table tennis is no less intense than other competitions. Although the arena is small, it is filled with glowing dreams that allow blind table tennis players to lead from here to the future. (End)