By Chen Xingyue, Sun Zhenghua and Li Fangni
The WTT China Smash 2025, held at Shougang Park in Beijing, concluded with remarkable success, attracting over 88,000 live spectators and breaking records with a daily foot traffic of 130,000. The event not only showcased top-tier international table tennis talent but also highlighted the contributions of students from the Bilingual Announcing and Anchoring program at Communication University of China (CUC), who played key roles in bridging the gap between the event and global audiences.
Among the students making an impact was Sun Zhenghua from the class of 2023, who served as the host for both the draw ceremony and post-match interviews.His ability to communicate fluently in both Chinese and English helped create a seamless connection between athletes and audiences worldwide. Despite the high-pressure environment, Sun successfully navigated the challenges, maintaining composure throughout the interviews. In addition, Sun was responsible for hosting the draw ceremony, ensuring that the event' s groupings were carried out smoothly.
Sun Zhenghua (Class of 2023, Left) interviewing world champions Sun Yingsha (Second from Left) and Wang Chuqin (Right)
Four bilingual broadcasting students—Chen Xingyue (Class of 2023), Zhang Xinyue (Class of 2022), Liu Shenghui (Class of 2022), and Li Weixu (Class of 2022)—took on the demanding task of liveand bilingual announcements for the matches. Each team rotated every few matches to provide continuous coverage in both Chinese and English. These students faced unique challenges in comparison to traditional studio broadcasting. The live event setting required them to work under intense pressure, constantly adjusting to real-time data from multiple tables, ensuring accurate pronunciation of athletes' names, and overcoming the distractions of cheering crowds and referees' commands.
"One of the most challenging moments was during the athlete entrance announcements. We had to keep an eye on real-time data and stay well-prepared before each match,"shared Chen Xingyue, who was responsible for the English announcing. "The dim lighting in the arena posed another challenge, but we managed by setting up desk lamps to ensure we could see our scripts clearly."
Chen Xingyue (Class of 2023)delivering live venue announcements at the WTT ChinaSmash 2025
For Zhang Xinyue, who also worked as an MC（Master of Ceremonies）, the experience provided a chance to explore two different aspects of broadcasting. "The MC role requires quick on-the-spot reactions and the ability to energize the crowd, which is very different from broadcasting," she explained.
Zhang Xinyue (Class of 2022) delivering live venue announcements at the WTT ChinaSmash 2025
The high-intensity work schedule tested the students' endurance both physically and mentally. The team arrived early each day, starting their preparations at 8 a.m. by reviewing player information, match data, and practicing the pronunciation of foreign names. This rigorous preparation allowed them to ensure accuracy and professionalism throughout the event.
Many of the students had prior experience in major international events, such as the World Games 2025 Chengdu and the China Open Tennis Championships. Their involvement in the WTT China Smash is a testament to CUC' s commitment to practical, hands-on training that aligns with the university' s "knowledge applied to real-world practice" philosophy.
This event served as both a platform for students to apply their professional skills and a demonstration of CUC's excellence in cultivating high-end international communication talents.
Through their efforts, these students contributed to a seamless international exchange and showcased the strength of CUC' s bilingual broadcasting program, as well as the university' s growing influence in global media. Their achievements at the event are a shining example of the potential of China' s youth in the global communication landscape.
Editor: Li Shuxuan, Fang Yiran
Managing Editor: Li Fangni
Editor-in-chief: Yu Ran, Chen Yiwen, Yang Zhongtian
