Shanghai institutions help talent development

Before Deng Minghao's first visit to the Shanghai Chess and Cards Culture Museum in 2019, Go chess was merely a pastime for the quiet five-year-old boy with a penchant for mathematics.

He used to spend around an hour each week at the Go club near his home, playing the game.

Upon viewing exhibits, such as old photos, manuscripts, trophies and medals, showcasing the illustrious path of legendary Go player Chen Zude and other influential Chinese players, Deng was inspired.

"Before, I didn't care much about winning or losing a game, I thought playing Go was just for fun."

"That museum visit made me want to win championships and experience that sense of honor," Deng recalls.

Fortunately, on that day, the guide who led him through the museum learned of his interest in Go, and recommended that he pursue more systematic learning of the game at the more professional Putuo Chess Academy.

Since then, a hobby has transformed into Deng's passion, with him becoming a regular at the academy.

The Shanghai Chess and Cards Culture Museum, established in 2018, was designated in January 2023 by the General Administration of Sports and the Ministry of Science and Technology as one of the country's first national sports science popularization bases.

In addition to housing a precious collection of Go artifacts and related ancient texts from numerous dynasties, the museum also features interactive touch screens and robots, through which visitors can experience the challenge of playing against artificial intelligence.

"We are currently planning to upgrade these high-tech installations. The museum has been collaborating with different youth science and technology initiatives in Shanghai to provide children who may be interested in chess and cards with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of these mind games," says Zhou Shiyu, the museum director.

Additionally, the museum regularly hosts public lectures, where children interested in Go can receive guidance from professional players.

Deng was among the beneficiaries of these lectures. In July, the now 10-year-old Deng won the men's championship in a local Go competition, in which more than 1,500 young players participated.

"This was the happiest thing for me this summer!" Deng said.

On Dec 25, China's Science and Technology Popularization Law was revised for the first time in the 22 years since its enactment, stressing the vital role of science popularization in multiple fields, one of which was sports.

Shanghai plans to seize this opportunity to further develop sports science popularization with the support from the Sports Lottery Welfare Fund, said an official from the Shanghai Sports Bureau.

Last year, the Shanghai Sports Museum, which is also one of the country's first national sports science popularization bases, hosted 65 sports science promotional events, such as sports culture weekend camps, salons, lectures, study tours and competitions.

Additionally, in June, the museum also refurbished a vehicle with interactive devices to act as a "mobile museum" to promote knowledge about emerging sports at last year's Paris Olympics, including break dancing, climbing, skateboarding and freestyle BMX, to a wider population.

The International Table Tennis Federation Museum and China Table Tennis Museum, which opened in Shanghai in 2018, is another major sports science popularization base.

The institution houses a collection of over 20,000 items from both domestic and international sources, showcasing the evolutionary history of table tennis, as well as its development in China.

Last year, the number of visitors to the museum was around 339,000.

The museum also hosts various activities, such as table tennis skill level tests, championship challenges, table tennis outreach programs in schools, lectures and experiential camps.