Photos provided by Hao Shuxia, West China Community News reporter Yang Chunmei and interviewee
Serve on your back, pump with extended arms, volley in the midfield… On November 27, the 2024 First Chengdu Seniors Tennis Open Finals concluded successfully. The finals lasted two days, with a total of 90 games. The competition was extremely fierce with masters dueling and rackets flying.
It is reported that the first Chengdu Senior Tennis Open is divided into three stages: spring station, autumn station and finals. Men’s doubles is divided into three categories for those aged 60-75, and women’s 55-75 is divided into four categories. 108 players registered for the spring station and played 96 games; 144 players registered for the autumn station and played 131 games. games; the 16 players (8 pairs) with the highest accumulated points from the two stations in each group will advance to the finals.
The “Three Tennis Sisters” from Pengzhou, the eldest sister Zou Zhengfang is 73 years old, and the second sister Zou Zhengying is 70 years old. Both of them have been playing tennis for more than 20 years and inspired the 56-year-old third sister Zou Min to play. The three of them came from more than 40 kilometers away. Pengzhou came to participate in the finals.
Diao Yufang, 71, of the women’s doubles group A, said: “I have been playing tennis for 19 years. Now I am in good physical condition. My sleep quality has improved. The pleasure brought by the moment of hitting the ball makes me feel uncomfortable if I don’t play for a day.”
The 72-year-old Gao Dewei is from Hong Kong, China. He is strong, energetic and loves tennis. With 63 years of playing experience, he has won the “ITF Open (International Tennis Open for Seniors)” four times. This time he participated in the finals of the first Chengdu Senior Tennis Open, and he partnered with Xiao Xian to win the first place in the men’s doubles group B. Gao Dewei said that playing tennis makes him feel very happy and comfortable. He hopes that as the physical fitness of the elderly improves, the competition will be further opened up without age restrictions and tennis will continue to be played.
At the end of the game, the championships in the three categories of men’s doubles were won by Sheng Yasukawa/Wang Daigang, Xiao Xian/Gao Dewei, and Gong Zhenxiang/Xu Li respectively; the championships in the four categories of women’s doubles were won by Chen Shaojun/Diao Yufang, Si Yuping/Yang Nanguo respectively. , Xue Xiaoli/Huang Xiaolan, Le Xiyu/Gao Ping won.
In addition to the active participation of senior tennis enthusiasts in Chengdu, this Chengdu Senior Tennis Open also attracted visitors from Deyang City, Leshan City, Zigong City, Liangshan Prefecture, Panzhihua City, Chongqing City, Jilin Province and China. Elderly tennis enthusiasts in Hong Kong signed up to compete.
In order to create a famous event city and city brand, promote the combined development of culture, sports and tourism, and attract more elderly tennis enthusiasts to enjoy life in this hot land, Chengdu Senior Citizens Sports Association, Chengdu Tennis Association, Chengdu Senior Citizens Tennis Association, Chengdu Municipal Government Veteran Cadres Tennis Club, four clubs have joined forces for the first time to create the first Chengdu Senior Tennis Open in 2024. Chairman Xu Jizhen of the Chengdu Senior Citizens Sports Association said: “The Chengdu Seniors Tennis Open aims to integrate events, form a brand, and promote level improvement; since it is an open competition, there is no restriction on geography, as long as everyone is within the specified age, they can sign up to participate. I hope tennis enthusiasts outside Chengdu can gather in Chengdu to add fun to sports and fitness, add content to leisure travel, and contribute to enriching the lives of the elderly.”
