Pickleball, a sport originated in the United States and has become increasingly popular in China in recent years, is bringing students from both countries closer together as a group of American students began an exhilarating cultural exchange centered around the game in Shanghai.
American students from Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools arrived in Shanghai last Friday and met with students from Luwan Senior High School, and friendship quickly blossomed.
The pickleball competition opened on Sunday at a sports center at the iconic Shanghai Bund, with 30 student-athletes from each half competing in an exciting and friendly manner.
"It's more like not a competition, but it's like a communication with other countries," said Chinese student Zheng Quan.
"So, it's actually really amazing that even different sides of the world, we know exactly what we're talking about. And it's like we're one person. Like right now, we're like best friends, like it we know each other for years," said American student Sheraz Hassan Bashir.
Over the past few days, the visiting U.S. students have also enjoyed diverse activities, from city walks and hands-on experiences with traditional Chinese handicrafts to tours, including a trip to the China Table Tennis Museum.
"Decades ago, ping pong or table tennis was a sport that brought U.S. and China relations together and spearheaded positive relations. So, we see, pickleball is something in the present day now. And on this tour to shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, our delegation, our student athlete ambassadors, have an opportunity to bring our countries together," said Jeffrey Sullivan, director of systemwide athletics at Montgomery County Public Schools.
Born in the U.S. in 1965, pickleball, a paddle sport combining elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, has exploded in popularity worldwide as a social sport, and China has been riding the wave since 2017.
Pickleball event unites youth from China, US in Shanghai
China and Russia have agreed to resolutely safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II, safeguard world peace and security, and uphold historical truth and international justice, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.
In response to a related media query, Lin briefed the press on the outcomes of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Russia and the 20th round of China-Russia strategic security consultation earlier this week.
"This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. The two heads of state attended commemorations in each other's country, and agreed to firmly safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II and resolutely oppose any retrogressive acts attempting to whitewash colonial aggression, sending a powerful message for upholding justice and fairness in the current era," Lin noted.
"During the recent China-Russia strategic security consultation, the two sides conducted strategic alignment on issues related to Japan, reaching a high degree of consensus. Both sides agreed to resolutely safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War II won at the cost of lives and blood, firmly oppose any erroneous words and deeds that attempt to whitewash the history of colonial aggression, and resolutely counter any attempts to revive fascism or Japanese militarism. Both sides stressed that China and Russia, as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, will shoulder their shared responsibility to safeguard world peace and security, and uphold historical truth and international justice," said the spokesman.
"We stand ready to continue coordinating and cooperating with Russia to resolutely curb the provocative acts of Japan's far-right forces that undermine regional peace and stability and attempt to remilitarize," Lin said.
China, Russia agree to resolutely safeguard outcomes of World War II victory: spokesman
