Youth build bridges with pickleball

Chinese and American youth came together at Tsinghua University on Monday for a friendly pickleball tournament, marking the final leg of a 10-day exchange tour for US students celebrating Spring Festival in China.

The event, which ran from Feb 15 to Tuesday, saw a delegation of US students and teachers visit multiple Chinese cities, including Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Shangyou county in Jiangxi province and Hebi in Henan province, before concluding in Beijing. The tour provided an immersive look into Chinese culture during the nation's most significant holiday, the Chinese New Year holiday.

During Monday's pickleball event, about 80 students from China and the United States were paired to compete in doubles matches.

Zhang Jin, deputy director general at the Ministry of Education's department of international cooperation and exchanges, welcomed the delegation at Tsinghua.

She noted that for many participants it was their first time experiencing Chinese New Year traditions such as making dumplings, writing calligraphy and watching lion dances. "This will be the perfect experience for you to see and experience a real and dynamic China," she said.

Zhang emphasized the role of youth as "special envoys of China-US friendship" and highlighted the gathering as part of an initiative to invite 50,000 young US citizens to China over a five-year period.

"Today, we choose sport as a common language," she said. "A handshake after a game, a hug of encouragement or a laugh shared in friendly competition builds bonds stronger than any words."

The delegation was led by Jeffrey Sullivan, director of system-wide athletics for Montgomery County Public Schools in the US state of Maryland, who highlighted Spring Festival as a time for family, rest and tradition.

"We have been able to immerse ourselves in Spring Festival, and that doesn't just happen. It happens because the people here in China — at every stop, every experience along the way — have welcomed us with open arms and invited us to enjoy and embrace Chinese culture," he said.

Drawing a parallel with the "ping-pong diplomacy" of the past, Sullivan said their mission was to build bridges one relationship at a time through pickleball. "We say we build friendship one relationship, one rally at a time. It's similar to how you build relationships between countries. To be part of building bridges and part of a solution is something we hope to be."

Addison Kain, an 11th grader from Poolesville High School in Maryland on her first trip to China, said her favorite part was "getting to talk to everyone and getting to learn that we're the same even though we grow up across the world".

"We're able to joke. We're able to like the same sports and still make friends," she said.

She has stayed in touch with new Chinese friends via WeChat and said she hopes to return. "I feel like there's so much more to see," she said.

Remy Cooperstein, a 12th grader from Damascus High School on his second trip, described the experience as "super rewarding", especially celebrating Spring Festival with dancing and fireworks.

He noted similarities among the youth. "We have a lot of the same interests in sports and making new friends and talking on social media. We're very similar," he said. He continues to communicate with friends he met during last year's trip and plans to do the same with new ones, discussing everything from daily life to sports.

Joshua N'Gouemo, a 17-year-old from Wheaton High School, said there is "no difference" between the youth. After trying calligraphy, watching lion dances and fireworks and sampling Chinese dishes such as spicy duck, he described the trip as eye-opening.

"I feel like back at home, what the media, the news say about China is not the same," he said. "This has been a wonderful experience and I really wish I can come again and explore China more."

Hou Jingfu, a 14-year-old from Beijing No 10 Middle School who has been playing pickleball for just a few weeks, said the US students were "very friendly, very enthusiastic and love to chat".

Liang Mengling, a 15-year-old from Beijing Qian Xuesen Middle School, said the US students' expressiveness and enthusiasm were a fresh experience.

She recalled a moment when a taller American boy helped her, a shorter student, join a group photo. "I think this is something worth learning. It uses minimal cost to show the greatest goodwill," she said.

She said she believes the friendships formed will last. "Understanding another world and their way of life through this is truly valuable," she said.