Albania, with two table tennis players in China

2023-08-18 21:41:00, Sport Edmond Laçi

It would be almost impossible, crossing all possible combinations, for two table tennis players from Albania to play in China in a world event. But the 31st World Universiade, held in the city of Chengdu in the Southwest China's Sichuan province, gave two Albanian athletes the opportunity to play table tennis in the country that for decades has become number 1 in the world for this sport. Among 6,500 young athletes from all over the world, Albania was represented by Liridona Rexhaj and Sadush Tosuni, students from the universities of Durrës and Elbasan. Rexhaj's appearance was more successful, after two victories with Zambia and Nigeria, while the men's draw was not so lucky.

In fact, the arrival of Albanian table tennis players in China is like a return to the origin, almost after 6-7 decades, since in the 50s and 60s it was the Chinese who brought the first table tennis balls and rackets to Albania, along with the "secrets ” of this wonderful game. Those were the years when table tennis had just become the national sport in China, giving an unimaginable impetus to its spread throughout the country. It was at this time that the Chinese national team came to Albania, even playing a series of unforgettable matches in the Mijeni Theater of Shkodra with the ten best Albanian table tennis players. In 1959, table tennis player Rong Guotuan was the first Chinese to win a world sports gold medal; China quickly became the strongest nation in table tennis, so much so that from 1988 to Tokyo 2020, she won 32 of the sport's 37 Olympic gold medals. But even in Albania, table tennis had its amateurs and champions. It is enough to remember the hall below "Ali Kelmendi" that never had a place...

Albania, with two table tennis players in China

The Albanian team that marched first in the opening ceremony of this Universiade was led by Klea Taipllari, General Secretary of the Albanian Federation of University Sports (FSHSU). She was left speechless by the hospitality of the locals and the organizers for the Albanian team, but also the athletes from other countries, from the time they arrived at the airport to the escort. "The experience in China was unique", says Taipllari, who came to this country for the first time. "The thing that impressed us the most was how everything was organized to perfection, from the opening ceremony when the road was blocked and only the participants of the Universiade were allowed to pass, while people greeted us warmly from its two wings...".

For Klean and the two Albanian athletes, the opening and closing ceremonies are two unrepeatable peaks. However - according to the FSHSU official - surprises, especially technological ones, followed every moment. "Robots to wait politely in the catering hall, others who made coffee or served as waiters, robots for quick assistance during matches in gyms, robot trainers for table tennis, even driverless buses, intelligent traffic systems for them they always leave the traffic lights green for the athletes to pass, until the devices that sprayed fog and reduced the temperature of this summer by 10 degrees Celsius, etc., etc. were some of the wonders we experienced in Chengdu.” - says Taipllari.

Albania, with two table tennis players in China

But for the organizers and the World University Sports Federation (FISU) the event was not just a sporting event. Like thousands of other participants, the small Albanian delegation was able to enjoy some of the wonders of the city of Chengdu, but also of the province of Sichuan and Southwest China. "Obviously, the place that will remain in our minds the most was the Giant Panda National Park." - says Taipllari, who does not forget to tell about the food in Chengdu. "A bit spicy for our tastes, but there was also Kung Pao Chicken, which was great."

Since last week, the torch of the 32nd edition of the World University Games has passed to Germany. Until then, the past experience in Chengdu will remain in the memory of the Albanian delegation. But also the sports results, which this time he chose to try in table tennis. And he didn't make any mistakes, if you consider that with about 40 million players at a competitive level and over 860 million amateurs, table tennis remains today one of the most popular and practiced sports in the world. (CRI)