Exchanges between table tennis players from the two countries in the early 1970s marked a thaw in Sino-American relations and paved the way
for the 37th US president's visit in 1972.
At the end of his visit, the first Sino-US joint communique was announced in Shanghai, playing a crucial role in the establishment of
relations between the two countries.The competition will be held in the
Chinese Table Tennis Museum in Huangpu District on Saturday afternoon.To
register for the competition, foreigners can call 1580 1959 676, 1330
1656 958, or 1390 1018 139 until Thursday.
The event is part of programs hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and organized by the
Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and
other organizations to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform
and opening up.
Among the Chinese players at the Maples Pavilion exhibition will be Deng Yaping, considered the best woman table tennis player in history,
according to tournament organizer Dennis Davis, the U.S. national table
tennis coaching chairman. A world champion since 1991, Deng won two gold
medals each in the 1996 and 1992 Olympics. The men's team will be led
by Liu Guoliang, 1997 world men's team champion and a double gold
medalist at the 1996 Olympics. They will be joined by Yang Ying and Ding
Song, members, respectively, of the women's and men's '97 world
champion teams.
The Northern California team includes Khoa Nguyen of San Jose, a U.S. men's world team member from 1987 to 1995; Shashin Shodhan of
Fremont, a 1996 U.S. high school boy's champion who is now a sophomore
at the University of California-Berkeley; Tawny Banh of Los Angeles, a
1997 U.S. women's world team member, and Michelle Do of Milpitas, who
currently ranks No. 1 among U.S. girl players under 16.
The table tennis matches are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, at Stanford's Maples Pavilion. Tickets may be purchased by phone at
(510) 601-8932 or (408) 287-5680, on the web at www.ticketweb.com. The
reception is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Monday, July 28, at the Stanford
Faculty Club. Reception tickets may be purchased by calling (415)
964-6130.
