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TITLE: NEW (OLD) KID ON THE BLOCK
LOCATION: BEHIND THE CANTEEN
MISSION: STARE IN AWE
DATE: 2012-02-07
This is He Changping (何长平), the resident table tennis champion. He is regarded as the number one player of all the companies in the group. Mr. Jin (金总, dressed in red) and Mr. Wu (吴总, dressed in black) are both managing directors at their respective companies at Wanxingda and are among the best table tennis players as well. When I first came here and saw them play I was blown away; completely confirming any prejudice I had of Chinese people having a genetic predisposition for playing table tennis. Then I met Changping. He has apparently been working away from Liaoyang for some time and just came back to Shoushan, which of course prompted some immediate pingpong action. While playing either Wu or Jin I would swiftly get crushed, but I would at least score a few odd points. Playing Changping I couldn't even receive a SINGLE shot; as soon as the ball hit my paddle it just fly away, spinning madly! He even made beating my former idols seem like a walk in the park. Impressive. Very impressive. Unfortunately I didn't get any better action shots, I didn't bring my big camera for lunch and my iPhone just isn't good enough.