To enrich the extracurricular lives of faculty and staff beyond their research, studies, and work, enhance communication, foster cohesion, and stimulate work enthusiasm and a competitive, innovative spirit, the Table Tennis Interest Group held the first School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering Table Tennis Exchange Tournament from July 2nd to 11th, with the support of the School’s Labor Union.

The exchange was conducted at two levels: the Growth Group and the Star Group. The Growth Group employed a best-of-three-games format with 11 points per game, using a single round-robin points system. The Star Group was divided into two round-robin subgroups, with the top two players from each subgroup advancing to the semi-finals. The semi-finals used a best-of-five-games format, while the final used a best-of-seven-games format.

Fifteen “athletes” ranging from those born in the 1960s to the 1990s competed on the same stage. The matches featured a dynamic mix of close-to-the-table fast attacks and long-distance rallies with loop drives. The duels were thrilling, with every point contested full of tactics and wisdom, and the table tennis room was filled with laughter and cheers. In the final, Ms. Li Xianjun demonstrated that women are not inferior to men, coming from behind to win the championship 4-3 after a grueling seven-game battle. Mr. He Weilong secured second place, and Mr. Yang Mingzhi took third place.

At the conclusion of the event, former school team mainstays, Dean Pan Difu and Coach Li Zhanzhu, were invited to play exciting exhibition matches with the champion and runner-up team members, respectively. The on-court exchange between two generations of mainstays fully demonstrated the inheritance of table tennis, a traditional strength of our school, and further strengthened communication and interaction among teachers of the older, middle-aged, and younger generations.

This table tennis exchange tournament not only showcased the sporting talents of the teachers but also deepened friendship and mutual understanding among them. Let us look forward to the next exciting tournament and jointly write a new chapter in the spirit of sports!

First Review: Yi Yang  Second Review: Shangjun Wang Third Review: Yuan Li