Ping Pong (TV series)

Ping Pong () is a 2021 Chinese television series starring Bai Jingting and Timmy Xu. 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. The series was listed in the 32nd Huading Awards "Top 100 Chinese TV Drama Satisfaction Survey". On 17 February 2023, the movie was released after its success.

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.

Cast

Main cast

Bai Jingting as Xu Tan
Timmy Xu as Yu Kenan

Supporting cast

Wan Guopeng as Liu Shi: A competitive team member
as Wang Siheng: Team manager at University, Xu Tan's girlfriend
as Lei Cheng: The national table tennis coach, Xu Tan's mentor
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

Production

The series was filmed from November 2018 to May 2019 in Shenzhen. Bai Jingting gained weight and practiced table tennis to accurately portray his role, performing all related scenes himself. In 2023, Timmy Xu reprised his role in the movie .