2021.05.15

The third “Times China Cup” Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Table Tennis League and the Guangdong Trial of the Mass-Team Table Tennis Project for the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China of the Times China Cup, based on the theme “I Want to Take Part in the National Games of the People’s Republic of China”, launched at the Guangzhou International Table Tennis Center on the morning of May 15, 2021.

The two competitions were jointly sponsored by the Culture Communication Committee of the Council for the Promotion of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation, the Guangdong Table Tennis Association and Times China Holdings Limited, and were co-sponsored by the table-tennis associations of different prefecture-level cities. Moreover, Times China, as the chief title sponsor, provided support throughout the events.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Zhu Zhenzhong, former chairman of the Guangzhou Committee of the CPPCC, former honorary chairman of the Guangdong Table Tennis Association and honorary chairman of the Guangzhou Table Tennis Association; Mr. Su Zhijia, former chairman of the Guangzhou Committee of the CPPCC and honorary chairman of the Guangzhou Table Tennis Association; Mr. Wang Weidong, Level-2 Inspector of the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau; Mr. Gan Zhaosheng, former chairman of the Guangdong Table Tennis Association; Ms. Qiao Hong, Olympic champion and vice president of the Guangdong Table Tennis Association; Mr. Chen Jintang, executive vice president of the Guangdong Table Tennis Association; Mr. Zhang Zhongguo, deputy director of the Culture Communication Committee of the Council for the Promotion of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation; Mr. Chen Yingfei, assistant president of Times China; and Ms. Li Lingling, secretary of the Party Committee of Times China Holdings Limited and director of the Board Chairman’s Office, attended the opening ceremony.

· Group photo of the leaders and distinguished guests at the opening ceremony

Times China Assistant President Chen Yingfei, in his opening speech, said, “Sports carry the dream of China’s prosperity and national rejuvenation. As an initiator of the ‘life stylist’ concept, Times China has followed and supported the cultural and sports development of society while working to make possible a more wonderful urban life through a growing array of offerings. This year, the joint organization of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Table Tennis League and the Guangdong Trial of the Mass-Team Table Tennis Project for the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, under the theme ‘I Want to Take Part in the National Games of the People’s Republic of China’, will energetically promote the prosperity of table tennis through interaction and communication regarding the sport throughout the Greater Bay Area. This year indeed has its share of major sports events. Through these competitions, we will select excellent table-tennis talents for the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China and promote the attainment of gold-medal objectives for Guangdong Province in the National Games of the People’s Republic of China.”

· Times China Assistant President Chen Yingfei gave a rousing speech.

· Ms. Li Lingling, secretary of the Party Committee of Times China Holdings Limited and director of the Board Chairman’s Office, accepted the present board.

The number of contestants in the competition approached 10,000, making it the top table-tennis event in Guangdong. Additionally, the total bonus of the event exceeded RMB1 million, making it one of the amateur table-tennis competitions with the highest bonus in China. The respective division competitions under the Third “Times China Cup” Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Table Tennis League will be completed prior to May 30. The finals will be held in Guangzhou in early September. The Guangdong Trial (Final) of the Mass-Team Table Tennis Project for the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China of the Times China Cup, carrying the theme “I Want to Take Part in the National Games of the People’s Republic of China”, will be held on the second and third floors of the table-tennis hall at the Asian Games Sports Center of the Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Center on June 6. Leading amateur table-tennis players at different ages, being selected from each region of the province, will then gather at Guangzhou and compete toward the delegate qualifications for Guangzhou’s mass team entry in the 14th National Games of the People’s Republic of China.

The two table-tennis competitions together represent an opportunity for the public to experience the charm of sports and the happiness of athletic endeavor, promote constant exchange in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and spotlight the latest developments in the region.

· Photo from competition

Times China has, for many years, drawn attention to the development of cultural and sports undertakings in society by sponsoring several influential public sports events and major sports projects in different areas. In fact, it has been the title sponsor of the Guangdong Football Association League since 2015, the title sponsor of the Foshan 50-Kilometer Hike since 2016, the sponsor of the 2017 Qingyuan International Marathon, the title sponsor of the exclusive CBA team in Guangzhou -- “Times China Team of Guangzhou” -- in 2018, and the sponsor of the “Mayor Cup” table-tennis competition for citizens in each of four consecutive years. Going forward, Times China will remain faithful to the nation’s “Healthy China” strategy as it contributed to the development of popular fitness programs.