HUI An
When the sunlight of Oyo State shone on the simple ping-pong table that young Aruna once built, the “paddle” made from a broken roof tile carried the purest dream of an African boy.
Today, this athlete, hailed as the “Lone Warrior of Africa”now holds a professional paddle as he trains for the upcoming competitions.
Thousands of miles away, in China’s Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, the 15th National Games of China, set to open on November 9, will bloom like a sky full of fireworks, telling a story of struggle, growth, and connection. These two seemingly distant scenes are closely linked, by the power of sports.
Aruna’s journey reflects the perseverance of countless dream chasers who rise from hardship. In his childhood, he had no standard table, no professional coach, and a paddle patched again and again.
Yet it was precisely his unyielding spirit that carried him from community courts in Nigeria to the Olympic quarterfinals, becoming the first African athlete ever to reach the men’s singles semifinals in Olympic table tennis history.
This spirit of rising through adversity resonates deeply with the founding spirit of China’s National Games.
Decades ago, China’s first National Games opened amid post-war recovery. Facilities were modest, and training conditions were tough.
But the athletes, driven by determination to “stand up,” broke world records and announced a nation’s rise through their passion and effort.
Today, the National Games have evolved, in Guangdong, over 90% of the 75 venues are refurbished rather than newly built, showing pragmatism over extravagance and wisdom over waste.
Twenty-three events now welcome amateur participants, with over 11,000 ordinary citizens, from market vendors to teachers to retirees, stepping onto the national stage.
The Games have become a true festival for all, transforming from an elite competition to an inclusive celebration, a vivid reflection of how China keeps getting “better and better.”
Aruna’s bond with China adds warmth to this shared story of growth.
This year, he officially teamed up with Chinese coach Wang Kai, receiving the professional guidance he had long awaited.
Many of his training paddles and balls are supplied by Chinese sporting-goods companies, and he has trained alongside Chinese athletes at their facilities.
Beyond Aruna, Nigeria’s track and field teams have trained at China’s Yunnan high-altitude bases, making breakthroughs through scientific methods.
Chinese coaches have also traveled to Nigeria to help refine techniques and build youth training systems.
Yet, as China and Nigeria join hands through sports, some Western voices try to politicize genuine cooperation — refusing to see the handshakes and smiles between athletes, preferring instead to invent narratives of “influence” and “hidden agendas.” But facts speak louder than prejudice: China–Nigeria sports exchanges come with no strings attached, only mutual respect and shared progress.
This November, as fireworks light up the Bay Area sky, the National Games once again show the world that China’s “getting better” is no coincidence.
It stems from pragmatism that wastes no resource, openness that breaks barriers, and a people-centered heart that never forgets its mission. Aruna’s story echoes the same truth — that every nation and every dreamer, with passion and perseverance, can shine on their own path.
When the whistle of the National Games sounds, may we remember Aruna’s roof-tile paddle, and the smiles shared by Chinese and Nigerian athletes encouraging one another.
China and Nigeria are running side by side on the road of sports — sharing experience, co-hosting events, cultivating young talent — letting more dreams bloom through cooperation.
Wherever we are, in Africa or Asia, no matter the starting point, as long as we keep striving for something “better,” every nation can write its own story of growth, and let the fireworks of dreams light up every corner of the world.
HUI An is a professor at the China-Africa Think Tank Research Center
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