Emerging table tennis athlete Chiu Chung-hei dreams of playing
gold medalist Kong Linghui. But Kong never got to play the
president.
"Great." was what Chiu said about his impromptu table tennis
match with visiting President Hu Jintao, who arrived in Hong Kong on Friday
to attend celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's
return to its motherland.
At 3:55 PM, Hu, who was casually dressed rather than his usual
deep-color formal attire, walked into the training center at the
Hong Kong Sports Institute, accompanied by Chief Executive Donald
Tsang.
This was his first stop on his three-day visit program, where he
was met by the President of the Sports Federation and Olympic
Committee of Hong Kong, China, Timothy Fok and the Chairman of the
Hong Kong Sports Institute Eric Li.
Hu watched demonstrations of wheel-chair fencing and table
tennis training, and then played table tennis with the 13-year-old
athlete Chiu.
"I feel very excited and the president's skills are beyond my
expectations," said Chiu, who has trained and played table tennis
for eight years. What made Chiu more excited was that Hu gave him a
present - a signed paddle.
Speaking to the elite athletes who were undergoing training for
the 2008 Olympic Games, and also to 2006 Asian Games medalists, Hu
said he had long cared about the development of Hong Kong's sport
and knows it has some outstanding athletes.
"Beijing will hold the Olympic Games next year, and you will get
a chance to strive for fame and glory for Hong Kong and the
country," Hu said.
"I hope you can achieve a good result through hard work and
scientific training."
Before leaving, Hu gave each athlete souvenirs of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
After his visit to the sports institute, Hu went to Wu Kai Sha
Youth Village, where an experience-sharing session was held for
some 100 youngsters who had taken part in an exchange program to
Beijing in April.
Hu was invited to visit exhibition panels containing pictures
taken by the youngsters during their Beijing trip.
The president told the young people that the future belonged to
them.
"If you don't do your best now, you will regret it later in
life," he said.
(China Daily June 30, 2007)