Your surname is the first Chinese character I learned! Touching Friendship of Chinese and Brazilian Badminton Players Originating from a Pair of "Old Shoes" Tan Qiang | Badminton | China and Brazil
On August 8th, China Daily reported that during the Chengdu Universiade, Brazilian badminton player Welton Menese learned a Chinese character called "Tan", which is the surname of his opponent, Chinese badminton team player Tan Qiang. "What is his name? I really want to remember him," Menese asked volunteers and reporters at the sidelines of the competition last week. What left a deep impression on Menese was not only Tan Qiang's superb badminton skills on the field, but also Tan Qiang's kind gesture of giving him a brand new pair of sneakers.
On July 30th, in a men's doubles badminton mixed team match, Tan Qiang easily defeated Menese, but Menese's worn-out sneakers on the field left Tan Qiang unforgettable. He said, "My first reaction was that although his sneakers were very old, he came specifically from Brazil to Chengdu to compete. I was moved by his love for this sport."
After the game, Tan Qiang asked Menese about his shoe size and exchanged his new shoes with his teammates in order to have Menese wear the appropriate shoes. "I want to give him a gift in the hope that he can feel the friendship and enthusiasm of the Chinese people. At the same time, I think we can all learn from his spirit," Tan Qiang said.
Menese is currently majoring in sports training at the University of Paulista in S ã o Paulo, Brazil. He said this kind gesture is of great significance to him. "When I first arrived in Chengdu, my shoes were fine, but for some reason, the sole came off during the competition. I am very grateful for Tan Qiang's help. After returning to Brazil, I will also wear these shoes for training. I believe they will help me play better," Menese said.
Menese was born in the city of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro. In 2010, a deadly mudslide occurred in Niteroi, and through a social welfare program initiated by several local badminton coaches, 9-year-old Menese was exposed to badminton for the first time. Then, he participated in his first badminton competition and won a medal. "My career journey started there," he said. "Now, as a student athlete, I participated in the Universiade, and the whole experience was unbelievable."
When talking about his badminton idol, Menese mentioned Lin Dan, Li Zongwei, and Igor Coelho de Oliveira, the first active Brazilian athlete to participate in the Olympic badminton event. Oliveira's journey from the slums to the elite badminton arena has inspired Menese to persistently move towards higher goals. "I know I haven't made it to the national team yet, I'm just training at a university club. But do I have an Olympic dream? Of course I do!" Menese said.
