The 15th National Games are in full swing, with athletes competing passionately across various events. Among them, an 81-year-old veteran from Hong Kong has made a remarkable appearance, "stunning" many netizens.
The man is Cheung Yiu-chiu, who represented HK in the masst able tennis event at the 15th National Games. At 81 years old, Cheung is the oldest athlete in this year's Games. His teammates affectionately call him "Brother Chiu," and this marks his debut at the National Games.
Cheung revealed that he used to work in the construction and engineering industry. He leads a healthy lifestyle, refraining from smoking, drinking, or gambling. Talking about table tennis, Cheung said he only started learning the sport at the age of 66. "After retiring, I watched my neighbors playing table tennis in the community and learned by playing with them," he shared.
His passion for sports and persistence have taken him from casual games with neighbors to the international stage.
Cheung said that last year, he won the men's singles championship in the 80+ age group at the World Veterans Tour in Rome, Italy. In 2018, he secured the runner-up position in doubles at the same event in the US. Later, in 2019, he claimed the doubles championship at the Shenzhen leg of the World Veterans Tour.
This year, Cheung received a selection notice from the Hong Kong, China Table Tennis Association for the National Games qualifiers. "At the time, hundreds of people signed up for the selection in HK," Cheung said. At 81, he stood out among dozens of competitors in the 70+ age bracket, becoming the sole representative for HK in this group.
To prepare for the National Games, the Hong Kong, China Table Tennis Association organized training sessions for its athletes twice a week, each lasting two hours. Living in Shenzhen, Cheung faces a round-trip commute of over five hours, yet he has never missed a single session.
At the National Games, Cheung lost 0–2 in straight sets to his competitor, with scores of 9–11 in both sets. He also fell to Anhui's team with scores of 9–11 and 4–11. However, he emphasized that participating in the National Games is all about learning and gaining experience.
Yang Yi, a player from the Anhui team, took a photo with Cheung and said, "I'm 72 years old, and he is our role model. It's not just about playing table tennis but also about learning from his determined spirit."
After reading Cheung's story, mainland netizens were full of admiration, commenting: "80 is truly the age to keep pushing boundaries!", "So cool! Amazing!", "Playing into your 80s isn't just a dream. Lin Gaoyuan and Fan Zhendong, I'll be there with a walking stick to watch you guys by then."
The love for sports knows no age limits. Whether it's seniors swinging their paddles to stay fit or young athletes sprinting across the field, these moments embody the true spirit of the National Games for everyone.
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