BEIJING: Sun Yingsha, China’s 23-year-old table tennis player who won two gold medals and one silver at the Paris Games, was again in the global limelight when she, as the representative of Asia, ceremoniously extinguished the Olympic flame on Sunday night, along with athletes from other continents, the International Olympic Committee Refugee Olympic Team, and host nation France, as well as IOC President Thomas Bach.
Thanks to her vigor, self-confidence and lovely smiles on and off the court, Sun, who won gold medals in the mixed doubles and women’s team event, as well as a silver in the women’s singles, has become one of the representatives of China’s rising generation of athletes at the Games.
On the international stage, these athletes exemplified the spirit of contemporary Chinese sports — open-minded, confident, composed and graceful. Their conduct reflected a deep respect for both teammates and opponents, embodying the Olympic motto of “Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together”.
Off the field, Chinese fans and online communities have moved beyond the fixation on gold medals, offering enthusiastic applause and cheers for every athlete’s effort. They celebrated victories, consoled those who fell short, and recognized the dedication of all Olympians.
Chinese athletes’ sincere off-field performances have caught the attention of the international media. Agence France-Presse highlighted a touching moment from the mixed doubles table tennis award ceremony — players from China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea took a podium selfie. ROK broadcasters repeatedly aired the footage, noting the significance of this rare show of unity. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
