Putting the topspin on teaching

From table tennis champion to academic, Liu Wei sees her journey as an opportunity to inspire youth all over China, Li Yingxue reports.

Peking University's Champion Lectures series concluded its fall semester in December with a visit from Paris Olympics' table tennis women's singles champion Chen Meng. Speaking to an audience of around 100, Chen shared candid reflections from her personal journey in an engaging and lively Q&A session.

Afterward, she signed her name on a giant table tennis paddle which is also adorned with the signatures of other icons who have participated in the lecture series, including Winter Olympic champion Ren Ziwei, Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Chen Zhong, and World Chess Champion Hou Yifan. Each shared their own stories of overcoming obstacles through passion and perseverance.

At the heart of this initiative is the course's founder, Professor Liu Wei, a Peking University faculty member who holds a distinction of her own as seven-time world table tennis champion.