|
Last April, Ding Junhui surprised the snooker world by winning the 2005 China Open barely two days after turning 18.
In the months after, a throng of Chinese families emerged from nowhere coming to the fore in the media with announcements that they were going to model on the Dings in bringing up their own children.
In other words, they were going to follow the steps of Junhui to the T, not minding if they have to let their children drop out of school, among other things, if that's what they have to do.
Earlier this morning, "Ding Junhui became only the second player in snooker history to win three ranking titles before his 20th birthday, with victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Northern Ireland Trophy final" (worldsnooker.com).
Ding's latest victory provides the perfect cue for me to answer that age-old question: "Can the Dings be emulated by another Chinese family?"
In light of Ding's latest victory, I'd like to offer a two-fold reply to that one. First, can Ding's achievements be repeated? Second, can the Dings' model of developing Junhui's talents be emulated by another Chinese family?
The question to the first is an emphatic "yes", even though it may sound ridiculous saying so.
The question to the second is a definite "no" - don't try it if you have any healthy respect for Junhui and the Dings and if you know what's good for your own children and your family.
First, Ding's own achievements provide proof that, though hard work and single-minded dedication, anything is possible. Sure, something like what Ding has just done won't come easy, and certainly won't come often. We're talking about winning three ranking events (those that earn players points to determine their year-end world rankings) before turning 20. After all, only one other player had done it before. That player is 1998 world championship winner John Higgins.
Higgins, though, is a Scot from Great Britain, from whence most of today's top players hail.
Ding, however, has had to do it in China, where the game of snooker (a game of trying to score by hitting colored balls on a table into a pocket or trying to stop the opponent from doing so via SNOOKER - blocking by putting a ball in the path of the target ball) was virtually unheard of before Ding came into this world. So, what Ding's done is really incredibly difficult, no doubt it. Any casual remarks of emulating Ding betray a lack of understanding and a healthy respect.
But, on the other hand, Ding himself is proof that it can be done. Before Ding stunned seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry in Beijing, who would've thought that one day a player from the Chinese mainland would be clanging balls on the same table with the likes of Hendry, six-time world champion Steve Davis and O'Sullivan, not to say defeating them and winning trophies!
Yet, Junhui did it. He did it, not because he was a genius (which he is), or because he had great parents (which he has), but because of dedication and single-mindedness. Contrary to popular belief that he's young (which he is), in term of snooker, he's a veteran. The boy started early - at the tender age of seven. One way of looking at him is that he's only 19, an age at which a lot of his peers haven't obtained a clue whatsoever to do with their lives. Another way of looking at it is, of course, that he's a veteran, having spent 12 years on the game and 12 dedicated years at that. The guy loves the game, and is willing to put in the hours necessary for success and for that, he is duly rewarded. Like the Li Ning marketing catchphrase says: Anything is possible.
However, the answer to the second question - can the Dings be emulated? - is a definite "no" if you ask me.
Here are some obvious reasons. First, your child might not be one who loves the game that much, willing to play the game at the expense of school education and often have to play on empty stomachs, like Ding had to. If he did get back to the dining table, Ding had but fast noodles to gorge his young and growing appetite with - the days were that harsh back in the, well, bad old days.
Second, you as parents might have better things to do than Ding's parents. You might not really want to give up jobs, family businesses, sell the family homes, move to other cities (all of which Ding's parents did) just to live the dreams of their son. In other words, you might have a life of your own. Your might have your own dreams to pursue. It's probably not a good idea to cram three minds into the body of one.
Third, no matter how much you as a family fancy the idea of basking in the glories of the son on day actually making, well, the family dream come true, you probably aren't dedicated enough to go through the same things that the Dings had to endure, such as the ignominy of life as gypsies in dingy one-room dormitories, exhausting the family fortune (however meager that may be) and surviving each passing day with hope but also with that big what-if in the back of the mind - what if the child fails to make it.
In the Ding's case, there appears to be enough love amongst the three of them to survive the worst. But another family might not have the makings to endure a decade of wander, hardship and obscurity.
In short, Ding's results can be repeated, if you care to try, and in all probability try even harder than he. But the family feat is best not be emulated. There are too many intangibles to advise any family to even try.
Instead, be inspired and learn from the Dings in spirit and blaze your own trails, whatever you do.
After beating Stephen Hendry, Ding told interviewers that his next goal is to beat O'Sullivan, a two-time world champion known for his quick-fire approach to the game - tellingly, O'Sullivan's nickname is the Rocket. Equally tellingly, what Ding said at the time was: "I appreciate his game, but I am not thinking about becoming another O'Sullivan."
Now that he's added the Rocket's scalp to his illustrious collection of victims (the significant others being Hendry and Davis, arguably the best to ever play the game), what's next for Ding?
With the Northern Island Trophy in hand, Ding said: "I want to get better in every match that I play."
With that attitude, I'm sure we have an opportunity to getting as used to wins for Ding as we are used to heading to the door to answer the ring-ting-ting.
|
