Chinese coach bounces around world

A master of ping-pong remains an ambassador of China and a mentor to young Belgian players.

Wang Dayong, 69, a Chinese retiree, arrives early wearing his red and blue sporting outfit and sneakers at a ping-pong club at the Brussels-Centre Sportif d'Auderghem on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

These are the time slots when the youngest ping-pong enthusiasts train. Wang walks around with his old-fashioned coach's clipboard, basically some printed sheets attached to a worn wooden board on which he notes all kinds of data on the young players, aged 6-8. From time to time, he stops in front of a few kids and instructs them on the basics of serving and receiving the ball.