Fifty-five years after a historic handshake across a table tennis net changed the course of global relations, China's top paddlers commemorated the anniversary of China-US Ping-Pong Diplomacy.

World number one Sun Yingsha expressed her pride in being part of a "meaningful cultural history," noting that the sport continues to act as a bridge.

"Table tennis can truly connect the two countries," Sun said. "Whether China or the United States, competing on this stage helps strengthen friendship between us."

Fellow world number one Wang Chuqin highlighted the mutual benefits of international exchanges. After competing against American players, Wang noted that there is much to learn from the US sporting system.

"Every country has its own training philosophy and system, each with strengths that can be learned from," Wang observed. "Through such exchanges, we can learn from each other and improve together."

For second-ranked Wang Manyu, the anniversary was a reminder of the power of non-verbal connection. Looking back at a 2021 partnership with an American player, she noted that "communication doesn't need to be complicated" to build trust.

"We communicated through simple words and gestures, and we even won a couple of games,"she recalled. "These exchanges help build friendship between people and athletes worldwide, and contribute to the continued growth of table tennis."