Focusing on his game: Chen Yizhou gets ready to counter a serve. [Photo/Tide News]

Chen Yizhou, a 13-year-old lad from Jiangshan – a county-level city in Quzhou, Zhejiang province – was recently thrilled to be selected for the second team of China's table tennis team, becoming the first player from Quzhou to enter the national squad.

Living near a sports complex, Chen often spent hours at the table tennis hall, gradually developing a passion for his sport. In 2018, with the support of his parents, he began professional training at the Jiangshan Sibao Table Tennis Training Base.

"While other kids might only train for a few minutes, he would persist until the end," said Ma Jiachen, a coach from the training base.

Chen's dedication and focus led to rapid progress over the space of a few short years. He won numerous championships at the regional and provincial levels, thanks to his unshakable focus and excellent performances. In February 2023, he joined the Zhejiang Provincial Table Tennis Team.

From Jan 23 to 25 this year, the National Youth Team Selection Tournament was held by the Chinese Table Tennis Association. Although Chen lost in the finals of the first round of eliminations, he quickly regained his form. In the second round, he advanced to the finals again and won the match with a forceful score of 3-0.

Chen said that standing on a higher platform required even greater effort to improve his skills. He also said he hopes to compete with more top players and bring honors to his hometown.