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Hong Kong's Doo Hoi-kem competes against Japan's Mima Ito during their women's team semi-final table tennis match at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP
SportHong Kong

Hong Kong Olympic medallist Doo Hoi-kem goes viral in China after Tiananmen Square flag-raising admission

  • Hong Kong paddler trends on Weibo for wanting to take Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games bronze to flag-raising ceremony
  • ‘Welcome to Beijing,’ say fans on social media after comments to CCTV following return from Japan
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Jonathan White
Jonathan White
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Hong Kong table tennis star Doo Hoi-kem has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the mainland since winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The paddler found herself trending on Weibo after an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, which has been widely reported on domestic news sites.

“I want to visit Tiananmen after the Tokyo Olympics”, she told them of her plans to take her medal to Beijing to watch the flag-raising ceremony, with that topic trending on China’s Twitter-like social media site.

The interview was well received, with many users leaving comments such as “Welcome to Beijing”.

Hong Kong's Lee Ho-ching, Doo Hoi-kem and Minnie Soo Wai-yam (from left) celebrate after winning the women's team table tennis bronze medal match against Germany at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

“I am Chinese, this is an indisputable fact,” Doo also told CCTV as she spoke of her pride at winning the medal, where the Hong Kong team joined the Chinese women’s team on the podium and Doo said she sang the national anthem.

After the ceremony the bronze medal winners joined the gold medal winners for a group photograph.

‘Miracle’ happens as medals continue to rain on Hong Kong in Tokyo

“We are a family, reunited and neatly organised, and win glory for the country together,” Doo said.

In a follow-up interview with Reference News, a newspaper published by the Xinhua News Agency, Doo spoke more about the reaction her interview got in China.

“When I got up that morning, many friends sent it to me,” she said of being a hot search on Weibo.

Doo Hoi-kem (fourth from left) with the Chinese national team coaches and members of the team. Photo: ITTF

“I was also surprised that I was able to repost it on Weibo and it was loved by everyone. Seeing many netizens say that they come from all over the country and welcome me to their hometown, I am very happy and I am very grateful to them.”

Doo, who is a member of the All-China Youth Federation, said she has visited Tiananmen before but is looking forward to returning with her medal.

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