The story of a family passionate about table tennis in Nghe An

Great love for table tennis

Entering the house of Ms. Ong Thi Bich Hanh in Ha Huy Tap ward (Vinh city), many people could not take their eyes off the system of Certificates of Merit, Medals and Championship Cups of family members after many years of being attached to table tennis.

Cherish the Gold Medal just won at“National Family Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament 2023”held in early August, Ms. Hanh said that she has been involved in table tennis for nearly 30 years. Since she was a 6th grader, when she witnessed her father's skillful ball smashing, she had an indescribable passion for this sport. Feeling his daughter's love, her father encouraged her to try practicing. Unexpectedly, beyond his expectations, she revealed a special talent for this sport.

At the end of 6th grade, Ms. Hanh was registered by her father to practice at the Vietnam - Germany Children's Cultural House. Finding a suitable environment, after only 1 year of effort, she was selected to join the provincial table tennis team. That was an important milestone for her to have the opportunity to test herself in many tournaments inside and outside the province. In particular, at national youth tournaments, Ms. Ong Thi Bich Hanh and the province's athletes have created many good impressions in the eyes of sports lovers with beautiful, dedicated and skillful playing style.

In grade 11, after many times achieving high prizes at provincial competitions, she broke through to win third prize in women's singles atNational Phu Dong Sports Festival. Her love for table tennis was nurtured over many years, including her student life and later working in the province's Electricity sector. At tournaments organized by the Provincial Business Bloc Party Committee, the name of Ms. Thi Bich Hanh was called many times on the podium of glory.

Not only stopping at provincial tournaments and those of her industry, since 2015, she has encouraged her husband and children to participate in 7 seasons of the National Family Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament. After that journey, the couple won 4 Gold Medals for couples in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023.

In the remaining years, the family won 3 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals for couples, father and son, mother and son. In 2022, Ms. Hanh received even more great joy when at the Nghe An Provincial Sports Festival 2022, she excellently won the second prize in table tennis singles.

Behind those achievements, Ms. Hanh said, the happiest thing that she and her family members have is the love that everyone has for them. She still remembers clearly the 2019 National Family Competition season, that was the first time she and her husband won a Gold Medal.

When the final whistle blew, the audience rushed onto the field to share the joy, congratulate the team enthusiastically and respectfully. The biggest surprise was that, among those fans, there were not only the home team's audience but also many fans of the away team. They shared that they loved the beautiful playing style of the Nghe An team. It was a way of playing but also clearly showed the lifestyle of the Nghe people: decent and upright.

Or at the 2022 National Family Championship, before the competition day, she had a high fever and was exhausted. At that time, the members of the Nghe An Team were always on hand, worrying about her. There was even an athlete in the provincial team who was a doctor, and this doctor directly took care of her and gave her medicine. Thanks to that, she recovered her health to participate in the tournament. Even though she and her husband only won the Bronze Medal that year, the bond and love that all members had for each other was much greater than that.

Fostering love of sports for the next generation

Not inferior to his wife, Mr. Nguyen Hai Anh, Ms. Hanh’s husband (born in 1977) is also one of the athletes who has won many Gold Medals at the province’s amateur tournaments. From their common love for sports, the couple has “passed the fire” to their family members.

Thanks to that, the eldest child Nguyen Dinh Anh Tu (born 2007) is not only a good student but also has achieved many great achievements in sports: Silver medal in tug of war at the national level in the 2020-2021 school year; 3 Bronze medals in table tennis at the National Family Tournament in 2020 and the years 2022, 2023.

The family's youngest child, Nguyen Hanh Tran (born 2012), has also participated in table tennis competitions in the province's grassroots tournaments. Although she has not achieved as many achievements as her older brother, she still has a great passion for this sport.

“The passion grows every day, even in family meals and becomes an indispensable part of each member's life. Table tennis is a sport that requires high technique, requiring players to practice persistently. Therefore, conquering this sport is also a way for players to practice health and conquer themselves. That is the reason why I always encourage my husband and children to spread love for this sport. More importantly, thanks to it, the children can stay away from their phones to enjoy colorful real life,” Ms. Hanh confided.

Now, her family has 3 generations attached to table tennis. That common passion contributes to multiplying love, solidarity and attachment among family members.