Introduction:
Zhuang Zedong is a legend in the world table tennis world. He has won the world championship, national championship, and internal national team championship three times, and the record he set has not been broken to this day.
Atsuko Sasaki and Juedong
In 1987, Juedong, who was already 47 years old, fell in love with Japanese lady Atsuko Sasaki, but their marriage was dissuaded from all sides, and Jueko Sasaki had no choice but to leave China. Ten months later, Zhuang Zedong risked his life to write a letter to Deng Xiaoping for marriage. Deng Xiaoping immediately replied: Agree, but there are two conditions.
What conditions did Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward?
An eternal monument in the history of Chinese sports - Zhuang Zedong
When it comes to the Chinese table tennis player who has the greatest influence in the international sports world in the 20th century, the first thing people think of must be Mr. Zhuang Zedong. Mr. Zhuang Zedong is an eternal monument in the history of Chinese sports. He not only achieved great achievements in sports, but also made great contributions in diplomacy.
Zhuang Zedong was born in an ordinary family in Yangzhou City in . He has formed an indissoluble bond with table tennis since childhood. Out of love for table tennis, Zhuang Zedong's parents trained Zhuang Zedong very early. html started practicing football at the age of 710, joined the table tennis group of the Beijing Youth Palace Amateur Sports School at the age of 14, and won the men's singles championship in the Youth Palace Table Tennis Competition at the age of 15.
Zhuang Zedong
From 1957 to 1961, Zhuang Zedong won several honors and joined the National Youth Table Tennis Team.
At this moment, Zhuang Zedong, who was only 21 years old at , stood out among many outstanding athletes. He faced top players from all countries, cooperated with his teammates and fought hard, cutting Japan's record of winning consecutive championships and winning the men's team championship. In the singles competition, Zhuang Zedong was invincible and won the first men's singles world championship in his life.
Since then, Zhuang Zedong's strength has become stronger and stronger, and his popularity has also risen sharply. Throughout the 1960s, Zhuang Zedong's legendary life began, winning multiple awards in succession: three consecutive national championships, three consecutive national championships, and three consecutive men's singles championships in the World Championships.
Zhun Zedong
In the table tennis career, Zhuang Zedong used his mature playing skills to win great achievements, but even he himself did not expect that one day he would become the "icebreaker" of Sino-US relations . In this game, he met his wife who grew old with him after he was Sasaki Atsuko .
In 1971, the 31st World Table Tennis Championships was held in Nagoya, Japan. On April 4, Chinese athletes got in the car and were about to go to the gymnasium. Just after the players got in the car, they found a foreigner with yellow hair and blue eyes sitting in the car. saw the Chinese player getting in the car, and the foreign athlete was also stunned, but the door was closed at this time.
The foreigner was very embarrassed and quickly turned his face and kept silent. The players wanted to communicate with the foreigner, but saw that the back of his clothes said "USA". It was obvious that the foreign player was an American.
At that time, Sino-US relations were at a freezing point, and there was a regulation in the team: Chinese athletes should not contact Americans abroad without authorization. So given these two reasons, no one talked to this American, and the atmosphere instantly became very awkward.
Zhuang Zedong
At this time, Zhuang Zedong thought of what Premier Zhou said to them before leaving: "Chairman Mao instructed us to 'friendship first, competition second', to make friends with athletes from all over the world and to reflect the new spiritual outlook of the Chinese people on the sports field." Zhuang Zedong thought that China is a country of etiquette, and it is really unreasonable not to say hello. After repeated consideration, Zhuang Zedong decided to extend a friendly hand to the American team members and break through the resistance of the two countries. Zhuang Zedong has never been as nervous as today. He took out his luggage and flipped around to find a suitable gift. This gift cannot be "too light" or "too heavy". Finally, he finally found a very memorial with Chinese characteristics - a pair of Hangzhou brocades more than one meter long.
Zhuang Zedong's movement of searching for things was seen by his teammates. When Zhuang Zedong was about to walk towards the American player, the teammate grabbed him and whispered, "Don't go, it will cause trouble." Zhuang Zedong certainly understood the concerns of his teammates. He patted his teammates on the shoulder comfortably and walked forward with the translator.
Zhuang Zedong
This American player is named Cohen. After getting on the car, he kept looking out of the car silently. At this time, a Chinese player suddenly greeted him, and Cohen was extremely happy. Cohen became even more excited when he learned that the guy in front of him was Zhuang Zedong, who was very famous in sports. Zhuang Zedong took out the brocade and said to Cohen: "The US government is not friendly to China, but the American people are always friendly to the Chinese people. In order to express the friendship between the Chinese people and American athletes, I will give you a gift as a commemoration."
Cohen was very happy and said to Zhuang Zedong with a smile: "I hope the Chinese players will succeed in this competition." This conversation took less than five minutes, but it opened the door to the development of Sino-US relations.
That night, American coaches and athletes came to the Chinese athletes' residence, sent gifts, and expressed their desire to visit China. In fact, the US side had already delivered this request to Chairman Mao’s desk. The central leadership expressed disagreement with the US side’s request, but when the news of “Zhuang Zedong’s friendly contact with American team member Cohen” came out, Chairman Mao immediately agreed to the US side’s request.
China and the United States establish diplomatic relations is due to the general trend. Zhuang Zedong's small move gave China-US relations an opportunity to ease. Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou seized the opportunity in time and used small balls to push the big balls, opening the door to Sino-US relations.
Prince Zhou
Last Xionhui, who worked next to Premier Zhou Enlai, said to Zhuang Zedong: "Xiaozhuang, you have done this to Chairman Mao's heart!" This evaluation was of great significance to Zhuang Zedong, making him a new star that quickly rose in the political arena overnight.
In this championship, Zhuang Zedong not only encountered Cohen, but also a Japanese fan Atsuko Sasaki became his life companion.
Atsuko Sasaki first met Zhuang Zedong, and fell in love with him at first sight
is popular on the Internet. Such a romantic rumor is spreading on the Internet, saying that in 1971, Atsuko Sasaki fell in love with Zhuang Zedong at first sight and finally got married. But in the interview after Atsuko, the truth of that year slowly emerged.
Sasaki Atsuko
Sasaki Atsuko is a Japanese, but she is born in Shenyang, China. After the founding of New China, Atsuko's father stayed as an expert in aiding China and was sent to work at the Northwest Veterinary Research Institute. Atsuko's family has 6 children, and she is the third child.
Atsuko, born in China, although the blood of Japanese people flows in her body, her heart is a pure Chinese heart. She regards China as her hometown. Atsuko lived in China for many years. After graduating from high school, she worked as a worker at Lanzhou No. 1 Wool Mill for two years. But the good times didn't last long. Atsuko's father died of rectal cancer, and the burden of the family was on his mother.
In 1967, Atsuko and her brothers and sisters returned to their hometown in Japan with their mother to live in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, and since then Atsuko and China are across the sea. In China, Atsuko usually speaks Chinese and only speaks Japanese when she returns home, so she is not very skilled in Japanese.
After returning to Japan, although Atsuko successfully entered a trading company, she couldn't understand the conversations of her colleagues at all. Everyone around her knows that Atsuko's family is from China and they are not very friendly to each other, which makes her miss her days in China very much.
Sasaki Atsuko and Zhuang Zedong
So when I heard that Chinese athletes would also participate in the World Championships held in Japan in 1971, Atsuko was very happy. Just like an old friend who hasn't seen for many years is coming to Japan, Atsuko decided to go to the game no matter how difficult it is.
Atsuko found a female companion to accompany her to take the sleeper car for seven or eight hours to Nagoya. After getting off the train, she ran to the Chinese athlete's base in diameter. But the receptionist said to Atsuko: "The athletes are about to compete. They are in a very nervous mood and are very hard in training. You should go back! Wait for a week and come back when the game is over!" Although
was a little disappointed, Atsuko still returned home sensibly. That time she returned empty-handed and spent nearly a month's salary. Atsuko did not give up and arrived at the station a week later.
At that time, we were just meeting the leader of the delegation at a meeting, but we didn't want to neglect the Japanese fans. The leader of the delegation found Zhuang Zedong and asked him to help entertain Atsuko and her partners. When he saw Zhuang Zedong, Atsuko was very happy and shook hands and talked with Zhuang Zedong very friendly.
Atsuko Sasaki and Zhuang Zedong
talked for about 10 minutes. Zhuang Zedong took out a brooch dedicated to the delegation as a souvenir and gave it to Atsuko, but Atsuko refused. This made Zhuang Zedong ask strangely: "Why, what do you need?" Atsuko pointed to the national emblem on Zhuang Zedong's chest and said: "Can you leave this for me?"
Zhuang Zedong smiled and shook his head and said: "This is not possible. We wear it every time we appear, which represents China!" Atsuko was very regretful that he did not take away the national emblem he wanted, but Atsuko was also satisfied to see the Chinese athletes.
After this simple conversation, Atsuko never forgot Zhuang Zedong again. When Zhuang Zedong brought a youth table tennis delegation to Japan in 1972, Atsuko went to see Zhuang Zedong again.
Before leaving, Zhuang Zedong picked up a flower basket in the room and said, "Give it to you!" Atsuko placed the flower in the most conspicuous place in the company to commemorate her fate with Mr. Zhuang Zedong. At that time, Atsuko had fallen in love with Zhuang Zedong at first sight, but she was not good at expressing her feelings at that time and regarded this feeling as a fan's admiration for her idol. In the years since
Zhuang Zedong
, Atsuko and Zhuang Zedong have never contacted each other again, but Atsuko is closely following the news about the Chinese table tennis world. It was not until 1982 that Atsuko saw a piece about Zhuang Zedong on the tofu block-sized page in the newspaper. According to reports, Zhuang Zedong's health is in a bad state, and Atsuko is very anxious.
happened to be the company where Atsuko was located sent her to Beijing at that time. Atsuko took this opportunity to meet many well-known figures, including a girl who knew Zhuang Zedong. After the girl learned about Atsuko's strange relationship with Zhuang Zedong, she was very happy to introduce Zhuang Zedong to Atsuko.
With the help of the girl, Atsuko finally met her beloved again two or three months later. That day, Zhuang Zedong was originally resting at home, but suddenly he was called to the office and did not recognize Atsuko. The leader reminded him: "Look carefully, one of them is not a Chinese." This time, Zhuang Zedong looked closely and Atsuko's familiar face rushed straight into his mind.
"Are you Atsuko?" Zhuang Zedong laughed happily as if he had seen an old friend.
In the days that followed, Atsuko often asked Zhuang Zedong to go out to play bowling. The relationship between the two has made rapid progress, and they gradually sublimate from the relationship between fans and idols to close friends. They opened their hearts and talked a lot of thoughts. From Zhuang Zedong's narrative, Atsuko learned that Zhuang Zedong had experienced many ups and downs and suffered another divorce.
Atsuko originally thought that Zhuang Zedong must have felt aggrieved under these sufferings, but Zhuang Zedong was very strong, still very sunny and talkative, which Atsuko did not expect, and she was also infected by Zhuang Zedong's optimistic spirit.
At that time, Atsuko was already in her 40s and was still single. Her family also arranged blind dates for her, but Atsuko never met anyone that made her moved. In fact, Atsuko and Zhuang Zedong have fallen in love, but neither of them took the initiative to express their feelings for each other, and even Atsuko's brother couldn't stand it anymore.
In 1985, Atsuko's brother went on a business trip to Beijing. When he learned about Atsuko's feelings for Zhuang Zedong, he directly proposed to Zhuang Zedong: "Atsuko loves you very much, and I hope you can get married." Zhuang Zedong was very happy. He had already developed love for Atsuko, so he was almost showing his feelings.
Atsuko Sasaki and Zhuang Zedong
But their marriage was not smooth, and nationality became the biggest obstacle between them.
Comrade Deng Xiaoping specifically approved: Agree, but there are two conditions
Zhuang Zedong and Atsuko finally expressed their feelings to each other. The two fell in love with each other, but when they were halfway through the wedding, they encountered great difficulties.
Zhuang Zedong is a national athlete and must pass the review of his superiors when he submitted his marriage report to his Japanese lover, but he was rejected. The answer given by the superiors of was that Zhuang Zedong had state secrets and did not agree to get married.
For this hard-won relationship, Zhuang Zedong looked for solutions everywhere and constantly submitted applications to Beijing Municipal Education Commission , Municipal Government, China-Japan Friendship Association and other units, but there was no news.
time is coming to the end of 1986, Atsuko's visa is about to expire, and there is no progress in their marriage. This means they are about to face parting. The next chance Atsuko came to China was half a year later. She immediately made up her mind to come back, so when she returned home, she didn't take a single piece of luggage and kept it all at Zhuang Zedong's home.
Just like that, Atsuko returned to Japan again with regret. Atsuko, who had always been strong, couldn't help crying when she returned to Japan. She was unwilling to part with her beloved.
Things did not turn around until 1987. After Zhuang Zedong and Atsuko separated, they kept working hard for their wedding. His letter of request was delivered from the grassroots level to Deng Xiaoping's desk. Deng Xiaoping was moved by their relationship and immediately issued an instruction on the letter of request: agrees, but there are two conditions. First, Atsuko must voluntarily give up his Japanese nationality and become Chinese nationality; second, in the future, he can only be Atsuko when he returns to Japan, and Zhuang Zedong cannot go abroad.
Deng Xiaoping
After Comrade Deng Xiaoping's special approval, Zhuang Zedong told Atsuko immediately, hoping that she could think clearly. Atsuko agreed immediately without any hesitation. This was not Atsuko's impulse, but responsibility for marriage and love.
This time, Atsuko went to the Chinese Embassy in Japan to complete the relevant procedures very smoothly. After settling down her family, Atsuko immediately boarded the plane to Beijing.
On December 19, 1987, the day Atsuko obtained her Chinese nationality, she applied for a marriage certificate with Zhuang Zedong, and the two lovers finally got married.
After marriage, Atsuko gave up her high-paying job in Japan and devoted herself to the family. Like ordinary Chinese families, the Ancestor is in charge of the inner world, and the Zhuang Zedong is in charge of the outer world. Whether before or after marriage, Atsuko likes to call her husband "Mr. Zhuang Zedong is very puzzled and thinks it is not very sweet to call him this way. But Atsuko did not change her words. She felt that if she called her husband "Zedong", she would erase her husband's greatness in her mind.
Zhuang Zedong and Sasaki Atsuko
have been married for more than 20 years. Atsuko and Zhuang Zedong have lived a very sweet life every day, and their enthusiasm has always remained in the state of their love. After the reform and opening up , many places invited Zhuang Zedong to guide table tennis, and Atsuko followed him to wash clothes for her husband. Atsuko also humorously gave herself a nickname called "mobile washing machine".
Zhuang Zedong is still a very romantic person. Every night after dinner, he would hold Atsuko's hand and take a walk to the nearby park or go to a movie. He prefers to ride a bicycle with Atsuko and feel the breeze together.
The love between Zhuang Zedong and Atsuko has spanned to the 21st century. They know each other, fall in love, stay together until they are gray-haired. In 2013, Zhuang Zedong was diagnosed with advanced rectal cancer. Atsuko cried and she could not accept the reality that her husband left her. On the sickbed of
, Zhuang Zedong was most worried about his life after Atsuko. He said: "Atsuko had no job after coming to China, and until now she has no social security and medical insurance. I am very worried about how she will live." In order to ensure that his wife can live a stable life in the future, Zhuang Zedong decided to auction his calligraphy.
On February 10, 2013, Mr. Zhuang Zedong passed away at the age of 73. This hero who has made outstanding contributions to the development of China's table tennis industry and made great contributions to China's table tennis diplomacy has left us forever.
After Zhuang Zedong passed away, Atsuko had no relatives because Atsuko had not given birth to children, and finally returned to Japan to live at the invitation of her relatives. Atsuko applies to return to China several times a year, worships her husband’s tomb, and visits her favorite place during her lifetime. She always held a photo with her husband in her hand, as if her husband was by her side.
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