CHENGDU, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Welton Juvenal Menezes, a badminton player from the mecca of football, experienced another loss at the ongoing FISU World University Games in China's Chengdu on Friday. However, the 22-year-old seemed content with the results.
Menezes is an avid badminton enthusiast hailing from Universidade Paulista in Brazil. He has registered for the men's singles, men's doubles, and mixed team events at the Chengdu Universiade, which will run until August 8.
In the men's singles round of 32, he lost to his Indian opponent 2-0, but his passion and performance on the court garnered rousing cheers from the Chinese audience.
Notably, many Chinese fans got to know him because of his new pair of sneakers. In a group match of the badminton mixed team event, Chinese pair Tan Qiang and Zhou Haodong easily defeated Menezes and his teammate Pedro Taveira. Afterward, Tan gifted Menezes a pair of shoes.
"During the competition, I saw his sneakers were worn out. My first thought was that he traveled so far from Brazil to compete with such shoes. This shows how much love he has for playing badminton. So I want to give him a pair of shoes as a gift," Tan said.
"I want to let him feel the hospitality from China. Meanwhile, I think he was so devoted and we should learn from him and his spirit," the Chinese shuttler added.
Brazil sent only four players to participate in the badminton competitions of the Universiade, which just met the minimum number of players in the mixed team event. Without a team leader, coach, or doctor, these players have to rely on themselves during the Games.
When Menezes opened the shoe box, he was pleasantly surprised to find a brand new pair of sneakers in his size. The Brazilian student-athlete was touched and happy to accept the gift, forming a new friendship with a Chinese player.
"These are very good shoes. Thank you so much for the gift from China. And the shoes helped me in today's game. They are very helpful," said Menezes, deciding to wear the new shoes for the following days' competitions.
"The new shoes represent the start of a new friendship," a Chinese netizen commented, as the heartwarming story between the two players became a hit on Chinese social media.
"I think it also reflects the friendship between China and Brazil," Tan said, adding that the Chinese players have also exchanged badges with their Brazilian peers to solidify their ties of friendship.
A total of 6,500 student-athletes from 113 countries and regions are competing in 269 events across 18 sports during the Chengdu Universiade held in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
"The facilities here are great, and the audiences are very enthusiastic," said Menezes. He and his teammates have even had the chance to visit and watch the giant pandas, as Chengdu is known as the hometown of the Chinese treasure.
"The pandas are very cute. Chengdu is a beautiful city, and the food here is also great and unique," Menezes said. ■
