On October 12th, during a lively badminton mixed doubles match in São Paulo, Brazil, Chengdu University student Li Wenxin and Brazilian player Laura Rovizzo da Silva became friends, or “amigos,” off the court. Holding a bookmark and a pen set emblazoned with “Chengdu University,” Laura smiled and told reporters, “This is a gift from my Chinese friend. I’m going to treasure it.”
The event was part of a series of cultural exchanges initiated by Liu Jin, the Deputy Superintendent of the Chinese Ministry of Education and Vice President of the International University Sports Federation. Liu led a Chinese badminton delegation to strengthen ties through sport, teaming up with the Brazilian Badminton Association.
The delegation included 10 college athletes and 4 distinguished coaches from six renowned Chinese universities, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Chongqing University, who received a warm welcome in Brazil.
Just a day prior, the Brazilian University Sports Festival kicked off in Brasília. At the invitation of the Brazilian University Sports Federation, the Chinese badminton team made a notable appearance at the opening ceremony, winning over the crowd as they performed the song “Red Flag Fluttering.”
Chinese badminton legends Gao Ling, a mixed doubles champion from the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics, and Li Xuerui, the women’s singles champion from the 2012 London Olympics, were present to coach Brazilian athletes. Both teams mixed and matched to bring thrilling matches to the audience.
Reflecting on the event, Liu noted, “The cheers from both Chinese and Brazilian attendees elevated the atmosphere of the opening ceremony.” He expressed particular joy at reconnecting with athletes he had met during last year’s World University Games in Chengdu, emphasizing the seamless cultural exchanges between Chinese and Brazilian youth.
Li Wenxin shared his experience, stating, “We trained and competed together, and I’ve made many Brazilian friends.” The delegation also visited Brazil’s Ministry of Education and engaged in deep conversations with the Brazilian University Sports Federation.
“The vibrant samba culture of Brazil was amazing,” Li said, noting how the visit helped to foster a better understanding of Chinese badminton culture and sportsmanship.
On the court in São Paulo, 19-year-old George from MacKenzie Presbyterian University faced off against Chinese players. He closely follows Chinese badminton stars like Li Shifeng and Shi Yiqi. “I admire them greatly,” he said, describing the experience as a rare and lucky challenge and expressing hope to visit China someday.
When Gao Ling and Li Xuerui took to the court, the Brazilian players cheered excitedly. Thirteen-year-old Daniel admitted to feeling a bit intimidated, saying, “At first, I was a little scared; they are world champions!” He mentioned that the Chinese coaches had helped him improve his footwork, humorously adding, “When I swing my racket, I just wish I could see them every year.”
Laura, who has been playing badminton for ten years, expressed admiration for Chinese stars, particularly Chen Yufei. “From Chen Yufei and the players I met today, I can feel China’s charm and influence on the international sports stage.”
Liu Jin highlighted that this visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. In September, the two nations signed a memorandum for university sports exchange and cooperation, marking this trip as an important step in that initiative. He also mentioned an invitation extended to the Brazilian university football team to attend the 2025 International University Sports Federation Football World Cup in Dalian next year, stating, “I believe the forces of youth, sports, and education will certainly pave the way for a new chapter in China-Brazil friendship.”
