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Chinese Ambassador to Canada Meets with the President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in Ottawa |
November 7, 2011 - On the occasion of a dinner meeting His Excellency Mr. Zhang Junsai, China's Ambassador to Canada, thanked Mr. Adham Sharara, President of the ITTF, for his contribution to the development of table tennis across the world.
Ambassador Zhang pointed out that China and Canada have their own strengths in sport that could enhance each other's sport programs. Increased communication and relations between the two countries will play a positive role in promoting table tennis in Canada. The evening looked back at some initial table tennis projects between China and Canada that have provided an opportunity for Canadian junior players to train in China. The Chinese Embassy, Table Tennis Canada and the ITTF are working together to enhance and increase Sino-Canadian exchanges in the sport of table tennis in order to promote the development of table tennis in Canada and throughout world.
Table Tennis Canada 's director general Mr. Tony Kiesenhofer, Ms. Lijuan Geng, honorary vice president and part of the national team coaching staff of Table Tennis Canada, and Chinese Embassy's cultural attaché Lindi Fu were in attendance.
Ms. Geng a former world table tennis champion won 4 gold medals at world championships. After retiring from the Chinese National Team, she and her family immigrated to Canada and she is now engaged in table tennis as a coach and as TTCAN's liaison for China. As an athlete, Ms. Geng has frequently represented Canada on the international table tennis scene and has captured many gold medals for Canada at the Pan American Games and numerous international events. Currently Ms. Geng is in charge of promoting the exchanges in the sport of table tennis between China and Canada. The evening's guests showed appreciation for Ms. Geng's continuous efforts.
Ambassador Zhang and Ms. Lijuan Geng are committed to work together to promote table tennis in Canada and agreed to make all efforts necessary to promote the recognition and appreciation of table tennis in Canada. Ambassador Zhang said the Chinese Embassy will support table tennis in the hopes to see the sport flourish in Canada.
As a first step in the Sino-Canadian exchange, Ms Geng has worked closely with the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Table Tennis Association to receive the Canadian National Team for a month of training in Shandong province in December of this year.input body here