Ping Pong (TV series)
| Ping Pong | |
|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 榮耀乒乓 |
| Simplified Chinese | 荣耀乒乓 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Róngyào Pīngpāng |
| Genre | |
| Written by | Li Jia |
| Directed by | Li Jia |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language | Mandarin |
| No. of episodes | 44 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | iQIYI |
| Release | 9 March – 8 April 2021 |
Ping Pong (Chinese: 荣耀乒乓; pinyin: Róngyào Pīngpāng) is a 2021 Chinese television series starring Bai Jingting and Timmy Xu.[1][2] The series depicts the lives of professional table tennis players who strives to represent their sport on the world stage. On 9 March 2021, it got released on iQIYI.[3][4] The series was listed in the 32nd Huading Awards "Top 100 Chinese TV Drama Satisfaction Survey".[5][6] On 17 February 2023, the movie Ping Pong: The Triumph was released after its success.[7]
Synopsis
Two players stand at the center of ongoing ping-pong competitions. Xu Tan, physically weak but highly committed, and Yu Kenan, talented yet unconventional, approach the sport from contrasting backgrounds. Despite their differences, their careers follow similar paths during a key period in Chinese table tennis. Guided by his grandfather, Xu Tan begins playing to improve his health and gradually earns recognition. Yu Kenan, a leading athlete from a well-known sports family, realizes that natural ability alone is not enough. Driven by their ambitions and a shared sense of duty, the two eventually face off in the most important match of their careers.[8][9][10][11]
Cast
Main cast
- Bai Jingting as Xu Tan
- Timmy Xu as Yu Kenan
Supporting cast
- Wan Guopeng as Liu Shi: A competitive team member
- Shen Nan as Wang Siheng: Team manager at University, Xu Tan's girlfriend
- Liu Zhibing as Lei Cheng: The national table tennis coach, Xu Tan's mentor
- Wang Jianxin as Teng Biao: Yu Kenan's mentor and coach
- Hong Bingyao as Zhang Caiwei: National team member, Yu Kenan's girlfriend
- Zhang Yang as Fang Yue: Former national table tennis team member and coach, mentored Xu Tan in the later years of his career
- Yu Lang as Lei Lei: Lei Cheng's daughter, Xu Tan's childhood crush
- Fang Xiaoli as Zhu Meiwei: Lei Lei's mother
- Bian Yiming as Fu Jingchun: Team member, retired due to injury.
- Julin as Big Liu: Physical training coach for the national team
- Gao Dongping as Zheng Hao: National team coach, mentor of Fu Jingchun
- Xu Seng as Qin Zhen: National team coach, Liu Shi's mentor
- Zhao Chengshun as Fu Chuanzhi: National team coach
- Isa as Yuan Ran: Team doctor, Liu Shi's girlfriend
- Kong Lin as Lin Di: Xu Tan's mother
- Guo Qiucheng as Xu Zhankun: Xu Tan's father
- Dong Chengming as Lin Haozhi: Former trainee who withdrew early, later met Xu Tan at university
- Qin Yijia as Xiao Jun: Team member, a friend of Zhang Caiwei
- Du Shuangyu as Ma Chuan: Team Member
Soundtrack
| Title | Artist | Lyrics/Composer |
|---|---|---|
| "Glory Ping Pong" (Theme Song) | Bai Jingting, Timmy Xu | Ren Yajing, Li Yan, Hu Haobo |
| "Youth Like You" (Ending Theme Song) | Unine | Ren Yajing, Lü Qing, Liu Suyi |
| "Dream Chaser" | Hu Xia | Ren Yajing, Li Yan, Hu Haobo |
| "One Left, One Right“ | Bai Jingting | Ren Yajing, Li Yan, Lan Tianxiao |
| "Rainbow Arc" | Timmy Xu | Shi Xiaopeng |
| "Our Ten Years" | Zhou Yan | Ren Yajing, Sun Wei |
| "Hot Boy" | Zhou Yan, Timmy Xu | Zhou Yan, Lao Dao |
Production
The series was filmed from November 2018 to May 2019 in Shenzhen.[12] Bai Jingting gained weight and practiced table tennis to accurately portray his role, performing all related scenes himself.[13] In 2023, Timmy Xu reprised his role in the movie Ping Pong: The Triumph.[14]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2nd Screen Integration Communication Ceremony | Vibrant Actors on Screen | Bai Jingting | Won | |
| 32nd Huading Awards | Top 100 Chinese TV Series in Satisfaction Survey | Ping Pong | Listed | [15] | |
| 2022 | Weibo Movie Night | Potential Actor of the Year | Timmy Xu | Won | [16] |
| Weibo TV & Internet Video Summit 2022 | Breakout Actor of the Year | Won | [17] |
References
- ^ cpop-home (2021-03-12). "Ping Pong - Bai Jingting, Timmy Xu". CPOP HOME. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ 李虹睿. "Bai Jingting - A new spin on the sport drama". en.chinaculture.org. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ 李虹睿. "A new spin on the sport drama". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ tofupopradio.fm. "ซีรีส์จีน Ping Pong นำแสดงโดย Bai Jingting - Timmy Xu คอนเฟิร์มฉาย 9 มีนาคมนี้ พร้อมหยอดภาพทีเซอร์ใหม่สร้าคงวามตื่นเต้น | Tero Radio". LINE TODAY (in Thai). Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ "第32届华鼎奖荣耀绽放". www.sta.edu.cn. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
- ^ Shetty, Karishma (2025-03-07). "The First Frost to Reset, 7 binge-worthy Bai Jingting Chinese dramas on Netflix & other OTT platforms that display his charismatic screen presence". GQ India. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ "Movie Ping Pong: The Triumph officially released on February 17". weibo.com. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
- ^ "Drama: Ping Pong". chinesedrama.info.
- ^ "Bai Jing Ting and Xu Wei Zhou compete fiercely as professional table tennis players in Ping Pong". A Virtual Voyage. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ Morton, Jean (2021-03-10). "Ping Pong Life (Chinese Drama Review & Summary) ⋆ Global Granary". Global Granary. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ Ashley (2021-03-13). "Ping Pong Chinese Drama - C-Drama Love - Show Summary". C-Drama Love. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ Shê, Chase (2019-10-18). "Bai Jingting and Timmy Xu in Sports-Themed Posters for Ping Pong". DramaPanda. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ "白敬亭许魏洲《荣耀乒乓》今日收官——中国青年网". t.m.youth.cn. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "《乒乓》杀青首曝角色海报 许魏洲出演国乒选手". Netease (in Chinese). April 9, 2019.
- ^ "32届华鼎奖《觉醒年代》满意度第一 十佳演员见证国剧去流量化". v.ifeng.com. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
- ^ "2022#微博电影之夜#荣誉". webio.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ "许魏洲年度突破演员潇洒倜傥，荣耀霓裳". weibo.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.