Zheng Minzhi married Chen Zude, an equally famous Go master, and this union of sports and chess undoubtedly became a good story of that era.
But the good times were short-lived, and two high-achieving professionals encountered insurmountable obstacles in their family lives.
Their marriage ultimately failed to stand the test of time and distance, and in 1989, the two decided to part ways.
After the divorce, Zheng Minzhi did not choose to remarry, but devoted more energy to the table tennis career she loved.
However, a question quietly emerged - what is Zheng Minzhi's life like today, 35 years after the divorce?
Does she still maintain the same love for table tennis back then?
How has her relationship with her ex-husband Chen Zude changed?
In the spring of 1973, the morning in Beijing was still faintly chilly, but inside the sports training center, it was a hot scene.
Zheng Minzhi, the main member of the young women's table tennis team, is making final preparations before the trip.
Her movements are skilful and precise, and every shot is full of power without losing her light and agility.
In between trainings, she would carefully adjust her grip or talk to her coach about possible tactics for dealing with her opponents.
In such a high-intensity training session, Zheng Minzhi and his teammates knew that they were about to face a world-class opponent.
The 32nd World Table Tennis Championships will be held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, which is not only a sports competition, but also a symbol of national honor.
Just one day before the delegation's departure, the head of **etc** received the entire table tennis delegation.
The meeting place was chosen in a solemn hall, the red carpet was spread all over the venue, and the huge portraits of leaders such as *** were hung on the wall, highlighting the importance of this meeting.
The arrival of the chiefs made the atmosphere of the whole hall more solemn.
** First spoken, his voice was calm and firm, and every word was full of inspirational power.
He talked about the important role of sports in enhancing the national physique and showing the image of the country, and placed high hopes on the upcoming competitions in which the athletes will participate.
** and *** also spoke separately, their words were full of concern and expectation for the athletes, hoping that they would fully show the demeanor of Chinese athletes in the competition and win glory for the country.
In such an inspiring atmosphere, Zheng Minzhi and his teammates felt an unprecedented responsibility and mission.
They know that every minute and every second of their performance represents the honor of the country.
With the end of the reception ceremony, the delegation embarked on a journey to Yugoslavia.
The long-distance flight did not dampen the athletes' morale, but rather brought them closer together.
When the plane landed at Sarajevo airport, he was greeted by a burst of fresh and slightly moist air, and Zheng knew that the real challenge was about to begin.
In the following competition schedule, Zheng Minzhi fought on the field almost every day. Whenever she stood on both sides of the table, she was not only facing the opponent in front of her, but also the weight that invisibly represented the country.
Zheng Minzhi performed exceptionally well in the game, with her quick reflexes and versatile tactics, and she was often able to hit exquisite returns at crucial moments, earning valuable points for the Chinese team.
In 1974, as Zheng Minzhi's brilliant achievements in table tennis gradually became a thing of the past, she began a new chapter in her life - becoming a coach.
Zheng's transformation did not happen overnight, and she needed to translate her experience and skills as an athlete into the knowledge and wisdom to be able to mentor young athletes.
The day Jung Min Zhi joined the coaching team, the atmosphere of the sports training center seemed to have undergone a subtle change.
As a former main player of the national team, her joining has given great encouragement to young athletes.
Zheng Minzhi's training method is different, she not only focuses on technical and tactical training, but also emphasizes the cultivation of psychological qualities.
She often organizes mock competitions for young athletes to hone their skills and temperament in a high-intensity, combat-like environment.
In this training mode, young athletes such as Dai Lili and Tong Ling have gradually emerged.
With a deep understanding of each athlete's characteristics and potential, she is able to tailor her training plan to each individual's situation.
For example, when coaching Dai Lili, Zheng Minzhi noticed that her mental adjustment ability in the competition needed to be improved, so he specially designed a series of psychological training courses for her to help her stay calm and perform at her best at critical moments.
For Tong Ling, Zheng Minzhi found that her technical foundation was very solid, but she was slightly single in tactical use.
Zheng Minzhi spent a lot of time with Tong Ling to ** the game videos of top players at home and abroad, analyzing the tactical characteristics of the opponent, thus broadening Tong Ling's tactical horizons and making her game style more changeable and elusive.
Zheng Minzhi's innovative teaching methods quickly showed results.
Under her guidance, young athletes such as Dai Lili and Tong Ling have not only achieved excellent results in domestic competitions, but also won many awards in international competitions, becoming a new generation of table tennis stars.
In addition to professional training, Zheng Minzhi also attaches great importance to the humanistic education of athletes.
She encouraged the athletes to read, learn and participate in cultural activities to broaden their horizons and enrich their content.
Zheng Minzhi believes that only well-rounded people can go further on the road of sports.
In 1973, Zheng Minzhi married Chen Zude, a prominent figure in the Chinese Go world, and this marriage caused quite a stir in both the sports and Go worlds.
As a highly accomplished figure in the field of Go, Chen Zude has defeated Japan's nine-dan master in many international competitions and is known as a banner of Chinese Go.
His intelligence and fighting prowess earned him great respect in the Go world.
After getting married, both were at the peak of their respective careers, and their busy work schedules made it difficult for them to spend time together.
As the coach of the national table tennis team, Zheng Minzhi has been competing in major competitions and training grounds all year round, while Chen Zude also frequently participates in Go competitions and activities at home and abroad, and the two have little time together.
Despite this, whenever the two of them can find time to get together, they always try to cherish this rare time.
In 1978, with the birth of their son Chen Yiqiu, the lives of Zheng Minzhi and Chen Zude seemed to usher in new hope and joy. However, the joy did not last long.
Due to the peculiarity and busyness of their work, they found themselves with little time to take care of their newborn son.
Faced with such a dilemma, Zheng Minzhi made a difficult decision to send her son to Shanghai and leave her parents in the care.
In Shanghai, Chen Yiqiu was carefully cared for by her grandparents, who did their best to provide the best possible upbringing and education for this little life.
However, no matter how deep the love of grandparents is, there is no substitute for the companionship of parents.
Every time Zheng Minzhi takes time out of his busy work to visit his son in Shanghai, she finds that there are new changes in his son, which she cannot personally participate in and witness.
In 1980, the family's situation was further complicated.
Chen Zude was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and the news was like a bolt from the blue, shocking the whole family.
Chen Zude underwent surgery** and began a lengthy course of chemotherapy. Despite the doctor's best efforts to control his condition, Chan's health continued to wax and wane, and he had to take medication for a long time and have regular check-ups.
During this period, Zheng Minzhi not only had to deal with his heavy work, but also faced a sudden health crisis in his family.
She tries to take care of Chen Zude in her free time, while also dealing with her relationship with her son, which makes her physically and mentally exhausted.
Zheng Minzhi and Chen Zude have already experienced a rift in their relationship due to their long-term separation and their respective careers, and Chen Zude's illness has exacerbated this situation.
The two found it increasingly difficult for them to find a common language and tacit understanding, even in their families.
Over time, although Chen Zude's condition has been controlled to a certain extent, his physical condition is still very weak and requires long-term care and attention.
Zheng Minzhi struggles to balance work and family, but she finds it increasingly difficult to take on the burden.
Under such pressure, the relationship between the two became even more strained.
Tranquility and retrospective of later life
In 1989, the marriage relationship between Zheng Minzhi and Chen Zude finally came to an end after a long period of tension and pressure.
After years of trying to find a solution, the two finally made the decision to divorce.
Although this decision is difficult, it seems to be the most rational choice for both parties.
In the divorce settlement, they decided that their son Chen Yiqiu would live with Zheng Minzhi, and although Chen Zude no longer lived with his son, he still promised to participate in his son's life and growth.
After the divorce, Zheng Minzhi did not choose to enter marriage again, but devoted all his energy and time to the table tennis career.
Her life revolves almost entirely around table tennis, and from coaching to participating in the organization and promotion of table tennis tournaments, Zheng Minzhi's contributions in this field have become more and more significant.
In 2008, Zheng Minzhi began to cooperate with Macao to jointly hold a middle-aged and elderly table tennis folk international invitational tournament called "Shanming Minzhi Cup".
The event aims to encourage middle-aged and elderly people to participate in table tennis, promote physical and mental health, and also provide a platform for table tennis enthusiasts to communicate and showcase their skills.
Zheng Minzhi personally participated in the planning and organization of the event, and she hopes that through such an event, more people can feel the charm of table tennis.
With the passage of time, although Zheng Minzhi is old, she maintains a good physical condition and an optimistic attitude.
In addition to work, her daily routine includes regular physical exercise, especially table tennis, which has become an important way for her to stay healthy.
Zheng Minzhi's son Chen Yiqiu, under the influence of his mother, also developed a strong interest in table tennis.
Although he didn't choose to become a professional athlete, table tennis became an important emotional bond between him and Jung.
After Chen Yiqiu settled in Shanghai, he started a family and had children of his own.
Although his family and work are in Shanghai, he often returns to Zheng Minzhi with his grandson, and three generations of his family spend happy time at the table tennis table.