Chinese stars show their charitable spirit in sanya

As part of a charity program scheduled during the China Tennis Grand Prix, national team representatives Liang Chen and Chang Yu visited a children's welfare center in the balmy tourist town of Sanya, along with with Tom McCarty, CEO of the event's promoter, Beijing International Group, on Wednesday.

Bearing gifts including toys, clothes and signed tennis balls for about 50 children at the center, Liang and Chang also took part in a series of activities with the children before watching them play guitars and recite poetry.

"Caring for underprivileged groups is a responsibility of mainstream society. Our tennis players have not forgotten that and are always willing to provide support. We hope to make them (the youngsters) happy and healthy through the influence of tennis," said Lin Xiaowu, general manager of BIG.

Earlier on the same day, a mini-clinic was held at the Sanya Tennis Center where 25 students from the Sanya No 1 middle school were exposed to the game.

National women's player Zhang Kailin shared her experiences with the students and also showed them fundamental skills such as forehands and backhands.

"I love watching tennis matches but I never tried to play before," student Liu Zhenjie said. "But now, through the practice and sister Zhang's instructions, I think I will become addicted to playing the sport."

Zhang signed autographs for the eager participants and posed for a group photo.

- Sun Xiaochen

(China Daily 10/27/2012 page16)