> Would someone like to do an English interpretation of this interview for me?

Thanks for your great site. Here it is, pretty "interpreted":

Interview 1: Apparently this is right after Goa's match with Li Ning, Singapore. Following is very paraphrased. Gao is not very interesting when not talking TT (just my opinion 8^).

---------

Commentator: Interview with a couple of World Champions. Jiao Zhimin and Gao Jun. Ms.Jao was here to watch Gao Jun's match.

Jiao: This was a very serious and stress match. I was very excited.

Gao: Li Ning's been working hard. I am not in shape. I did not expect to win.

Jiao: Li Ning plays very well, and smart, too. Gao is player of our (older) generation. But she

can still compete for years to come (compliment).

Commentator: We spoke to Li earlier and she said Gao should be considered the female Waldner. You both are friends, talk about that.

Gao: she was older than me on the team, I she was very nice to me and we had similar hairstyles so I was "attracted"(not sexual meaning) to her.

Jiao: Gao had such a nice voice/personality and we got along very well.

commentator: tell us how it was back then.

Jiao: Well, I was older, so I was like a older sibling, and had her do chores for me.

Gao: Oh yes, I would get treats for her. I guess this is normal.

commentator: Ms.Jao left the national team in 1988. Most people think it was her personal choice.

Looking back, would Ms.Gao agree?

Gao: I was surprised at the time, too. But we were close, and because of the circumstances of the

olympic (she must be talking about Jiao/Ahn's "love affair" and marriage), I would agree/understand.

Commentator: I am "embarassed" to ask this, but everyone knows of the love interest (marriage) of

Jiao Zhimin and Ahn Jae-hyung, Gao, you are the most honest person, can you comment?

Gao: You should defer this to Jiao (laughing).

Jiao: I tell everything to Gao, we talked about everything on our minds. Back we were not supposed  to discuss those thing back in the day on the team, especially situation like mine (Ahn was a Korean player).

------
Commentator goes to a game.

Jiao: I haven't had much interaction with them. They are coaching on the national team. But we all know each other.

Comm: Sei Jing Hu? (korean player) looks thinner than she used to.

Jiao: Many of us slim down after pro career (hmm?). I think she's gotten married, and had two children. I think she's had health issue, that's why she's so thin.

Comm: Koreans used to be competitive with us in TT and badminton. But their younger (female) generation hasn't caught up.

Jiao: That's true, I don't think the younger player are in good (physical) shape.

Comm: Gao, you play in the US. Americans like football, hockey, baseball. We have many differences  (in sports preference) except for basketball. Is ping pong popular in US?

Gao: In my opinion, ping pong isn't less popular in American. There are ~1000 participants at nationals every year. But they are all self-funded and not have their trip paid for by provinces (like us).

Comm: Like those Canadian divers (ie. diving in a pool), they pay for their own trips. I was talking to other journalists earlier and they thought that foreign people may abandon ping pong if we keep getting all the metals. But I think, like you, they won't because they have a lot of self-interest/dedication. Gao, the US players can't win championships. What motivates them?

Gao: My experience in the US is that the players play for excercise/hobby and fun. They don't necessarily just care about winning. They play very motivated and exciting despite lack of ability. Even if they lose, they practice hard.

Jiao: I feel Gao is now like that too. It used to be you don't want be the one to lose the metal. But she plays more carefree now, she plays for joy.

Comm: In that vein, two matches left an impression on me. Papolavich? the chopper vs the Japanese player in women's singles. Her friend/family was incredibly excited for her, like she was in the final, even though she can't hope to win the championship.

Also, in mens double, boll/suis vs the polish team. Their fans were very energized. But do you feel that since the chinese team is "wasting" the competition, foreign fans would be demotivated?

Jiao: Back in the 21point days, the ability difference was clear, but now it's very hard to predict a match. Matches can be very uncertain and it's easy to lose as a better player, so it creates excitement.

Comm: Ms.Jiao never played in the 11point era, but Ms.Gao has. Many feel the rule differences affected Kong dramatically, how has it affected you?

Gao: I stopped playing for while (years) during the transition, so when I restarted, everything felt new anyway. But now after a while, I feel the larger ball actually benefits us older players, like Waldner.

Comm: If Kong is allowed to continue on the team, he would benefit the same?

Gao: Sure, it all comes down to experience now. The difference in skill is not all that different.

Jiao: We (older players) are so different than before. There is no huge pressure to win the championship. Gao looks so joyful now.

Comm: We should aspire to that. As long as we enjoy the game and improve our results. Now Gao feel happy just to cause some trouble for other players.

------------

-----------
Comm: We've been chatting with Jiao and Gao about ping pong. Now let's chat about other things. I know Jiao's been up to a lot in Korea. She's on TV I'm told.

Jiao: Oh, it wasn't much, it's almost embarassing to say in public. I do some reports on foreign views, chinese culture, and whatnot.

Comm: In Korean? (language)

Jiao: Yes, back then my korean was poor, people must've found it fun to watch. But 1994-1998 I did some more work, I improved a lot.

Comm: We've interviewed Ahn Jae-hyung (her husband), and gave him 80-90 points on his Mandarin. How would you compare in Korean?

Jiao: 60-70 at best I guess.

Comm: Gao, how has the language challenge been for you in America?

Gao: I worked for a Chinese company at first, so didn't bother learning much english. In 1999, I start playing ping pong, so I had to talk to coaches and players in english and learned much more.

Comm: So you have a US coach now.

Goa: He's from Romania

Comm: do you pay for him or the US does?

Goa: He's assigned to me by the US, but it's different than here (china)? All of them are dedicated volunteers. They all have other work. Even the USATT president, who's very dedicated, who doesn't know much about ping pong. (laughs) But my coach is very good.

Comm: I've been very happy watching the matches with the two of you. Thank you for your valuable time.

General -  Deng Yaping

She said in a recent interview about Gao Jun made the quarter-final in the 48th World, "Gao Jun and I belong to the same generation. Her quarter-final permance in Shanghai proved that the current table tennis technique has not advanced much."

/Bruce

http://forums.delphiforums.com/usatt/messages?msg=874.1

2005-05-04 00:21:45 XinhuaEnglish

http://english.sina.com/sports/1/2005/0504/29762.html

SHANGHAI, May 4(Xinhuanet)-- Former world doubles champion Gao Jun revived her table tennis career as the 36-year-old veteran outlasted Chinese youngster Cao Zhen 4-3 to reach the women's singles quarterfinals Wednesday at the world championships.

Gao, a former Chinese national player who now represents the United States, won the"Dual of Generations" 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4,9-11, 3-11, 11-7.

Playing in penhold style, Gao combined her consistant blocks and placement shots to hold her 18-year-old opponent at bay.

Gao, the women's doubles winner at the 1991 world championships, had earlier knocked out fourth-seeded Li Jia Wei of Singapore on Tuesday.

Gao next faces Lin Ling of Hong Kong, China in the quarterfinals. Lin stunned world number four Tamara Baros of Croatia 4-2 to reach the last eight.

WTTC 2005

http://www.ittf.com/stories/Stories_Search_Detail.asp?ID=7117&s_Title=gao+jun&

Consistency & Experience Counts

“Consistency is my game”, said GAO Jun. “My task was to force her to make errors.” GAO Jun is both consistent and experienced, she won the Women’s Doubles title with CHEN Zihe at the World Championships in Chiba in 1991 and three years later the pair won silver in the Women’s Doubles at the Barcelona Olympic Games. She originates from Heibei province in northern China and was originally coached by TANG Yingsheng, the coach who also guided the fortunes of NIU Jianfeng and BAI Yang who are both present in Shanghai and come from the same region of China as GAO Jun. Throughout the match against CAO Zhen, GAO Jun blocked and hit conservatively, never rushing, she kept the ball on the table and eventually her opponent made errors. “I was relaxed, she was under pressure, she was playing in her home country and when you are playing for the Chinese team you are always under pressure”, added GAO Jun. “Also, this is the first time she’s played in the World Championships, it’s such a big event and the whole atmosphere can be daunting.”

GAO Jun’s style of play is the traditional Asian style; short pimples, penhold grip, using one side of the racket only, block when the ball comes into the backhand court and hit quickly with the forehand when the chance arises. “On the backhand she has the same short pimples as me”, said GAO Jun. “She has the speed, she’s faster than me, she attacks faster and moves faster!” The American player kept her composure throughout and even when a member of the crowd shouted, suggesting she should retire, she walked away when preparing to serve, took a deep breath and returned to the fray, totally focused. The level of concentration needed to succeed in big events is enormous and GAO Jun demonstrated this crucial element of table tennis to the full. “Concentration is vital but I also think now that we play to eleven points experience is even more vital”, she said. “Games can change so quickly, you’re not safe leading 10-5!”

Watching the match throughout with an eagle eye was the former United States champion and leading player, Danny SEEMILLER. “GAO Jun has an unusual style so for a young player it’s difficult to adjust”, he said. “She changes direction and length so well, the tactics were excellent.” Naturally pleased was United States Table Tennis Association President, Sheri PITTMAN who had vocally supported GAO Jun throughout. “I can make enough noise for five hundred”, joked Sheri, no comment! “The guy from the crowd who said she should quit got her fired up”, she added. “Considering the pressure she did marvellously well, I think it’s the first time she’s beaten a member of the Chinese national team in a World Championships.”

It was a fine performance by the player who now lives in Maryland, United States and it proved that there is more than one way to play table tennis. Meanwhile in the remaining fourth round matches in the top half of the draw China’s ZHANG Yining beat North Korea’s KIM Hyang Mi, Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus overcame Hong Kong’s TIE Yana and the latter’s compatriot defeated LIN Ling, defeated Croatia’s Tamara BOROS. In the lower half of the draw NIU Jianfeng ended the hopes of Krisztina TΣTH, GUO Yue beat FAN Ying in the all China clash whilst GUO Yan, also of China, overcame Hong Kong’s SONG Ah Sim. In the final Women’s Singles contest of the fourth round the progress of Korea’s MOON Hyun Jung came to end losing by the narrowest of seven games margins to LI jiao of the Netherlands. LI Jiao originally from Chengdu in China arrived in the Netherlands five years ago, she joined the national team in July 2004, practises at the National Training Centre and plays for Nak Van Helder.