Shanghai - MENA Herald: Zhang Jike and Li Xiaoxia, members of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team that conquered all at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, were the star attraction at Dubai Week in China: Shanghai during an evening in celebration of China and Dubai’s successful sporting partnership.
They delivered an all-action display, demonstrating their skills with a series of trick shots, and posed for pictures with guests alongside fellow Rio 2016 Olympic Games gold medallist Chen Long, winner of the 2014 BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals, and Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera-Bello, a Dubai resident currently competing in the 2016 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, and Chinese equestrian star Alex Hua Tian.
The evening – co-hosted by Dubai Sports Council and Falcon and Associates – gave guests the chance to learn more about the city’s rich sporting heritage and growing significance as a world-class destination for sport.
“Dubai and China’s partnership spans many sports, from badminton to golf, aquatics, tennis and cycling, among others. Table tennis, of course, is a great example of us working together through our groundbreaking sponsorship of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team since 2013, a clear sign of Dubai’s commitment to China, as well as our passion for sport,” said His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council, addressing government officials and sports industry stakeholders at The House, Xintiandi.
Dubai is a place Zhang Jike associates with passionate sports fans. “We always enjoy playing in Dubai. The atmosphere is great - there are over 200,000 Chinese living in Dubai and they really get behind the team,” said Jike, who competed in Dubai at the 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, the 2014 ITTF World Team Cup and the 2016 Nakheel Asian Cup. “I also love getting involved with the Ping Pong Dubai initiative. It is amazing to see how the programme has introduced thousands of new players to the sport.”
Jike is not the only Chinese athlete to find success in Dubai. Feng Shanshan is a three-time winner of the Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters, while twin sisters Luo Ying and Luo Yu triumphed at the 2015 BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals, each contributing to the growing sporting connection.
His Excellency Saeed Hareb also highlighted that golf is a strategic focus for Dubai. He added: “It is wonderful to be here in Shanghai at the same time as the 2016 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, a highlight tournament in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai that also includes the Shenzhen International, Volvo China Open, and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. It climaxes in Dubai from 17-20 November at the DP World Tour Championship, an incredible event that is testament to the ability of Dubai - and our young population of more than 200 nationalities - to welcome and host the world.”
China and Dubai both love football and Emirates Airline – a Dubai Week in China: Shanghai Supporting Partner – highlighted this by providing guests the opportunity to take a picture with the Emirates FA Cup, one of football’s most prestigious trophies.
“Football is growing in both our nations. The UAE will host the 2019 AFC Asian Cup - the region’s largest and most prestigious tournament – and we look forward to welcoming both China’s business leaders and footballers,” added His Excellency Saeed Hareb. “Chinese investment in Dubai is significant already and the event offers great potential with opportunities across sponsorship and infrastructure developments, such as the 60,000-seater Mohammed bin Rashid Stadium to be built by 2021. Attracted by our favourable climate and hospitality, we hosted the Chinese National team - along with seven club teams - for winter breaks in 2016 and look forward to them coming in 2019, while we also invite everyone, from clubs to sporting bodies, rights holders, event organisers and tourists, to come and use our state-of-the-art facilities.”
Dubai Week in China: Shanghai was supported by Strategic Partner Expo 2020 Dubai and Official Partners Dubai Chamber, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and Jumeirah Group. Supporting Partners include Dubai Duty Free, DIFC Courts, Emirates Airline and Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).