Zhuang Zedong

In 1940, he was born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. At the age of 10, he began to practice table tennis. At the age of 14, he joined the table tennis team of Beijing Children's palace amateur sports school. At the age of 15, he won the men's singles championship in Beijing Children's table tennis competition.

In 1957, he won the mixed doubles championship in the national table tennis championship.

In 1958, he joined the Beijing table tennis team at the age of 17. Good physical quality, using a unique straight shot in the near table fast attack on both sides, fast and stable. At the end of the year, he was selected into the National Youth table tennis team. At the end of 1959, he participated in the Scandinavian international table tennis competition, won the men's singles champion, and won the men's team and men's doubles champion together with his companions.

In 1961, he won the men's singles championship and the third place in men's doubles at the 26th World Table Tennis Championship (in cooperation with Li Furong), and was one of the main players of the Chinese table tennis team who won the men's team championship.

In 1963, he won the men's singles championship at the 27th World Table Tennis Championship and was one of the main players of the Chinese table tennis team who won the men's team championship.

In 1964, he was elected as a deputy to the third National People's Congress.

In 1965, at the 28th World Table Tennis Championship, he won two titles in men's singles and men's doubles (in cooperation with Xu Yinsheng (microblog)) and the third place in mixed doubles (in cooperation with Liang Lizhen), and was one of the main players of Chinese table tennis team who won the men's team championship.

In 1971, he won the second place in men's doubles at the 31st World Table Tennis Championship (in cooperation with Liang Geliang) and was one of the main players of the Chinese table tennis team who won the men's team championship. He has made outstanding contributions to the cause of table tennis in China.

In April 1971, when he participated in the 31st World Table Tennis Championship in Nagoya, Japan, he bravely made friends with American athlete Cohen at great risk. This matter was praised by Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou (Chairman Mao: turning the big ball with a small ball), which opened the door to the friendship between China and the United States. This is the "table tennis diplomacy" that shocked China and the world, The first person in the sports world who has made great contributions to the peace of mankind.

In 1973, he was elected member of the 10th CPC Central Committee.

From 1974 to October 1976, he served as director of the State Sports Commission.

In 1975, he was elected as a deputy to the Fourth National People's Congress.

In 1984, he was the table tennis coach of Beijing Children's palace.

On October 30, 2002, Zhuang Zedong international table tennis club was established.

On June 22, 2007, he was employed as the head coach by the Chinese star table tennis team.

At 17:06 on February 10, 2013, Zhuang Zedong died of illness in Beijing.

In 1960, he won the title of sports master;

In 1961, 1963 and 1965, he won the sports Medal of honor issued by the State Sports Commission for three times;

On September 1, 1973, in recognition of his outstanding achievements, the International Table Tennis Federation awarded him the replica St. Brad cup.

Zhuang Zedong met the pianist Bao Huiqiao of the central Orchestra in 1959 and got married in 1967. Their son Zhuang Biao and daughter Zhuang LAN, nurtured by their mother, love music and often practice piano and violin. Zhuang and Bao divorced in February 1985.

In 1987, in order to marry Zhuang Zedong, Sasaki Dunzi was forced to give up his Japanese nationality and immigrate to Beijing. At that time, Zhuang Zedong was frustrated in his official career. He had just implemented the policy from Shanxi, where he was imprisoned, and worked as a physical education teacher in the children's palace under the Beijing Municipal Bureau of education. The 45 year old world champion was separated from his wife and children and had a difficult life. He was crowded with his mother in the ancestral courtyard. Teaching children to play table tennis in the children's palace for a living is only a few dozen yuan a month, plus 30 yuan for three world champions (one world champion is 10 yuan, he won three consecutive sessions). After divorce, 30 yuan will be paid to the old mother every month, 40 yuan will be paid to the child, and 30 yuan will be paid for their own living expenses. At this time, Sasaki Tunzi found the children's palace and asked for love. However, at that time, China was not open to the outside world. Sasaki Tunzi, who fell in love with Zhuang Zedong, was ordered to leave the country within a time limit, and the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo did not grant him a visa.

Beijing does not issue a passport to Zhuang Zedong, and Zhuang Zedong is not allowed to go abroad. They risked their lives to write a letter asking for marriage, which was finally approved by the Secretariat, the Political Bureau, Wang Zhen, Hu Yaobang... And Deng Xiaoping. Finally, Sasaki Tunzi voluntarily gave up his Japanese nationality, became a Chinese and immigrated to Beijing. For 20 years, a poor couple served Lao Zhuang's daily life.

After joining the Chinese nationality, Toshiko Sasaki, who used to work in a Japanese company, lost his Japanese high paid position, became an alley housewife and lived a miserable life for ordinary people. The two live in the alley of the former Yuanen temple. The husband and wife in need often collide head-on with the old duck when they go to and from work.

Until Lao Zhuang retired, the couple rode bicycles to and from the children's palace and the old house of the former Yuanen temple every day, with their husband singing and women following, rain or shine. 20 years ago, the two were old duck friends. Now they are both the authors of a person's journey.

Personal experience

Zhuang Zedong, a legendary figure in the world table tennis world and an eternal monument in the history of Chinese sports, has won the world champion, the national champion and the internal champion of the national team for three times. So far, no one has broken this record.

His way of table tennis started in the difficult years of new China. His spirit of table tennis inspired the entrepreneurial passion of a generation. On December 24, 2004, economic daily made an important special report in a full page; His encounter and bold contact with American athlete Cohen laid the cornerstone of "table tennis diplomacy", making table tennis truly our "national ball". He made outstanding contributions to "small ball turns big ball", completed the dreams and pursuit of several generations, and created a myth that no one can surpass so far.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

Zhuang Zedong's legendary life is not just because he is a world champion. The famous "ping pong diplomacy" in the past has brought glory and ups and downs to his life. For this, he himself quoted the story of "a blessing in disguise, but a blessing in disguise".

For the "ping pong diplomacy" between China and the United States, Zhuang Zedong said: "It's just that table tennis has the honor to become a 'chess piece' of national diplomatic strategy. The time is ripe for the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, which is the inevitable condition for creating this period of history, and table tennis is only an accidental factor. Otherwise, no matter how powerful China's table tennis is, it can't hit the other hemisphere. I'm proud to be this' chess piece ', but this is actually China's table tennis The glory of the world is also the glory of all table tennis lovers in China. "

Table tennis played the role of "icebreaker" in the history of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. At that time, the "thawing" of China US relations needed an opportunity.

When Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai learned that Zhuang Zedong and Glenn Cowan, an American table tennis player, had "reciprocity", they immediately decided to invite the American table tennis team to visit China, thus starting the "table tennis diplomacy" of "small ball promoting big ball". Zhuang Zedong was praised by Mao Zedong: "he can not only play well, but also do diplomacy. He has a little political mind."

In 1971, the 31st World Table Tennis Championship was held in Nagoya, Japan. American athlete Cohen mistakenly got on the shuttle bus of the Chinese team. Zhuang Zedong took the initiative to greet Cohen and presented gifts. In an era when China US relations have not yet recovered, such a move soon became the focus of world attention. Journalists from various countries took photos and reported with pictures and texts.

The "thawing" of China US relations needed an opportunity at that time. When Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai learned that Zhuang Zedong attached great importance to the exchanges with American players, they immediately clapped their hands and invited the American table tennis team to visit China, thus starting the "table tennis diplomacy" of "small ball promotes big ball". Zhuang Zedong was praised by Mao Zedong, "he can not only play well, but also do diplomacy. This person has a little political mind".

Table tennis diplomacy refers to the cultural event that China invited the American table tennis team in 1971. At that time, table tennis player Zhuang Zedong played an important role in it. During the 1971 Nagoya World Table Tennis Championships in Japan, Zhuang Zedong's friendly move in the face of American table tennis player Cohen who "took the wrong bus" opened the good story of "table tennis diplomacy". "Ping pong diplomacy" successfully broke the ice in China US relations and promoted the then US President Nixon's visit to China. In 1972, the Chinese table tennis delegation headed by Zhuang Zedong was invited to return to the United States, played with American players in the rose garden of the White House, and was received by US President Nixon.

Zhuang Zedong is the first Chinese table tennis player to win the "three consecutive championships" of men's singles, that is, he won the men's singles championship in three consecutive World Table Tennis Championships. At the same time, he is also the main player of the "three consecutive championships" of China's men's team. He is the most excellent table tennis player in the 1960s and the first main force in China's table tennis world at that time.

In addition, Zhuang Zedong also played a key role in opening the door to China US relations. He is one of the heroes of "ping pong diplomacy", which is unmatched among athletes.

Zhuang Zedong was one of the most outstanding table tennis players in the 1960s. He won the men's singles championship of the World Table Tennis Championships for three consecutive times and helped the Chinese table tennis team win three consecutive championships in the men's team competition of the world table tennis championships. In 1987, Zhuang Zedong married Sasaki Dunzi. In the mid-1980s, Zhuang Zedong began to teach at the Beijing Children's palace. In 2000, he left this job, but he is still active in various activities of table tennis.

Cultural revolution experience

2011 coincides with the 40th anniversary of "China US table tennis diplomacy". Zhuang Zedong played a key role in "ping pong diplomacy". But for many years, the sports system has been reluctant to accept the famous athlete. Because during the "Cultural Revolution" he was the director of the State Sports Commission for three years, Zhuang Zedong, like many people, was involved in the catastrophe.

Offend others

After returning from his visit to the United States in 1972, Zhuang Zedong became the leader and head coach of the national youth team and the Deputy Secretary of the Party group of the National Sports Commission. At this time, he had unconsciously entered the political arena.

In 1973, Zhuang Zedong was sent to the "central reading class" to study. The first document to learn is "Mao Zedong's letter to Jiang Qing". When the class ended and returned to the sports committee, someone began to attack Wang Meng, who was promoted by Zhou Enlai to be the director of the sports committee at that time. The reason is that in early 1974, two table tennis players in Inner Mongolia wrote a complaint after being beaten. Jiang Qing asked Wang Meng to deal with it, but there was no reply a few days later. Wang Hongwen's secretary said that Wang Meng did not convey the instructions of the central leadership. The rebels of the Sports Commission began to question Wang Meng. "I put forward to do some explanation for Wang Meng. I want to tell you that the State Sports Commission is not under the control of Jiang Qing." Later, the leader of Jiangtou told me, "I can't wait for the leader of Jiangtou."

"Jiang Qing told me that 'Wang Meng is a big bully, a dead bureaucrat and a person on Lin Biao's line'. Do you think I believe it? The first document I learned in the study class was Mao Zedong's letter to Jiang Qing. Chairman Mao said to Jiang Qing, 'I can't tell anyone about anything, I can only tell you'. So I treat Jiang Qing and them as the people Chairman Mao trusted most." As for the rumor that Zhuang Zedong had an affair with Jiang Qing, Zhuang Zedong responded: "I've heard of this rumor. How can it be? Every time someone's such a big leader meets someone, there are a lot of secretaries and service staff around him. Those gossip are not affected." Zhuang Zedong said, "I have selfish thoughts. I just want to fight with the right people in complex political struggle and don't make mistakes." Jiang Qing asks Zhuang Zedong to go back and fight with Wang. Zhuang Zedong obeyed. At the next Party group meeting of the National Sports Commission, Zhuang Zedong targeted Wang Meng and was echoed by everyone.

In December 1974, Zhuang Zedong, 33, became the director of the National Sports Commission. Jiang Qing, Wang Hongwen and others told him: "you are young and don't understand many things. You can see us whenever you have problems." Like the cadres drawn in by the gang of four at that time, Zhuang Zedong also pursued the "Gang of four line" and began the sports revolution. Following the instructions of the gang of four, Zhuang Zedong replaced many cadres after taking office, taking reliability as the starting point. "A large number of cadres have been changed, which has offended many people." Zhuang Zedong recalled, "during my tenure, I didn't fight cadres, let alone kill people."

Withdraw from politics

In October 1976, after smashing the gang of four, Zhuang Zedong was locked up in the Beijing Garrison for review for four years. Zhuang Zedong couldn't figure out how people like the gang of four would fall. When he was the director of the State Sports Commission, he didn't want to divide the room. His sister who was far away in Tacheng had to be transferred back. How could there be a problem with the people close to Chairman Mao? After four years of isolation review, Zhuang Zedong was arranged to Shanxi table tennis team to wait for the review conclusion.

In 1984, Zhuang Zedong returned to Beijing to teach at the Municipal Children's palace and train young athletes. All political activities and honors have nothing to do with him anymore. Kissinger once mentioned him during his visit to China, and the answer was "Zhuang Zedong is on a business trip".

Since then, Zhuang Zedong has set up table tennis clubs all over the country,

On June 2, 2005, Zhuang Zedong established "Zhuang Zedong international cultural development Co., Ltd." in Beijing.

Most proud

How can a person who works hard for the Chinese people not be liked? Zhuang Zedong is most proud of the "Three Firsts", that is, three consecutive titles in men's singles of the world table tennis championships, three consecutive titles in domestic competitions and three consecutive titles in national team competitions. Zhuang Zedong is famous for his attack, speed and momentum. When playing, there is a tiger going down the mountain. Therefore, he is known as the "little tiger".

In 1955, Qiu Zhonghui, China's first female table tennis world champion, elected Zhuang Zedong to the Chinese table tennis team. Recalling the situation in those years, Qiu Zhonghui said that Zhuang Zedong was "playing hard and fast, playing at the sight of the ball. He played very hard, took the initiative to attack, and generally didn't defend or push." In short, watching Zhuang Zedong play is a word of "cool".

Before and after death

On February 5, 2013, Zhuang Zedong, who was hospitalized for advanced cancer, further worsened his condition and was cooperating with the hospital to take various measures to make the last blog with the disease.

After being diagnosed with advanced cancer in 2008, Zhuang Zedong was treated in many hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai and admitted to Beijing You'an Hospital for treatment at the end of August 2012. "When Mr. Zhuang first came, he had no stool for five days and only 1 / 8 of his good liver was left. He wanted to euthanize with dignity, but our doctors couldn't do so and would never give up. For more than five months, although Mr. Zhuang's condition has developed and it is more difficult, we still won't give up." Director Zheng Jiasheng, head of Zhuang Zedong's medical team, said.

According to Dr. Zheng, after more than five months of hospital treatment, Mr. Zhuang has carried out five times of radiofrequency ablation of the liver under CT guidance. 6 / 8 of the tumors in the liver have been removed, and the rest are residual and some are new tumors growing on the original 1 / 8 of the liver.

At 17:06 on February 10, 2013, Zhuang Zedong died in Beijing at the age of 73.

Condolences from all parties

He has made great contributions to table tennis in China! In 1971, during the World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan, his friendly contact with American player Cohen attracted the attention of all parties. Soon, Chairman Mao Zedong decided that China would invite the American table tennis team to visit China. Ping pong diplomacy shocked the world. Xiaozhuang, go all the way!

——Xu Yinsheng, lifelong honorary chairman of ITTF

Old Zhuang, go all the way!

——Chinese men's table tennis coach Liu Guoliang

Pay tribute to your predecessors.

——Zhang Jike, champion of men's singles and men's team of table tennis in London Olympic Games

A great master has been lost in the table tennis world. Old Zhuang has gone all the way! He struggled with the disease for several years and always maintained a positive attitude.

——Chinese men's table tennis coach Qin Zhijian

I still remember that the first time I took pictures with the world champion was elder Zhuang, the first person to promote the internationalization of table tennis and the first person to win three consecutive championships of the world table tennis championships. Although he died of illness, the spirit of the elder always lives in our hearts.

——Xu Xin, Chinese men's table tennis player

He loved go when he was the best player! All the way!

——Go world champion Ma Xiaochun

The tombstone was painted

After Zhuang Zedong's death, there was no place to be buried. After being raised in many places by song Ge, Chen Jianxin, Li Jing and Tang Shizeng, Fenghuang Mountain Cemetery in Changping, north of Mengjing, provided a 4x4 meter cemetery to build this tombstone, and made a three-dimensional statue of a favorite photo of Zhuang Zedong.

August 17, 2016, the Zhongyuan Festival, the traditional day of ghost sacrifice. When Zhuang Zedong's widow Sasaki Dunzi took her eldest brother Sasaki long, younger brother Sasaki Jin, Zhuang Zedong's "hair child" Song Ge, colleagues from Daiwa Securities, her daughter-in-law, her good friends and others to visit Zhuang Zedong's cemetery in Fenghuang Mountain Cemetery in Changping, she found that the lower end of Zhuang Zedong's tombstone was sprayed with black paint and some inscriptions were covered. Sasaki Dunzi found gold powder and re decorated it.

Beijing, Feb. 11, according to voice of China news, at 5:06 p.m. yesterday, Mr. Zhuang died in Beijing at the age of 73 due to ineffective medical treatment.

Even if some young people are not familiar with the name "Zhuang Zedong", they can know "ping pong diplomacy". In 1971, China invited the American table tennis team to visit China, which promoted the normalization of Sino US relations. Zhuang Zedong is the key figure of "ping pong diplomacy".

In that year, Zhuang Zedong participated in the 31st World Table Tennis Championships as a Chinese table tennis player in Nagoya, Japan. American table tennis player Cohen mistakenly got on the car of the Chinese delegation. Therefore, Zhuang Zedong accosted him and presented Cohen with a picture of Huangshan Scenery in Hangzhou brocade as a gift. Unexpectedly, just a few minutes of friendly exchanges have become a catalyst for ending the cold war between China and the United States for more than 20 years.

The major media have reported this emergency with prominent positions and pictures, and countries all over the world pay close attention to the development of the situation. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other top Chinese leaders devised strategies and made decisive decisions. A few days later, the American table tennis delegation was invited to visit China. On December 28 of the same year, Premier Zhou appointed Zhuang Zedong as the head of China's first delegation to the United States.

In February 1972, Nixon and his party visited China. In April of the same year, Zhuang Zedong led the Chinese table tennis delegation to the United States. Nixon received Zhuang Zedong, head of the Chinese table tennis delegation in the rose garden of the White House, which caused a sensation in the United States and the world. "Small ball turns big ball" has become the most classic chapter in the history of eastern and Western diplomacy in the 20th century.