There is a typical saying from one of the recent popular Hong Kong dramas that sounds like this: "How many ten years can we actually have in life..."

Nevertheless, do you know that the Northern Kedah Chinese School Teachers Association has continuously organised "Po Jie Cup" championships for primary schools for more than 40 years, and Wu Quan Rong and Wu Quan Yin have been sponsoring the pingpong championships for well over four decades--since the first year until today?

Sharing sponsorship fee since 1968

Since 1968, the Wu brothers have been jointly sponsoring pingpong tournaments by sharing the expenses.

Today, although the younger of the two, Wu Quan Ying has passed away, his son Dr Wu Shu Fa has inherited his initiative by continuously sponsoring the pingpong tournaments even though he has his own career in Melaka.

Wu Quan Rong, the elder of the two brother, has retired and is currently enjoying his retirement at home. He has passed his charity career to his grandsons, Zi Yi and Zi Zhan brothers so that they could follow the footsteps of their grandfather in supporting public welfare and education.

With the continued support of the Northern Kedah Chinese School Teachers Association and the Wu family, the "Po Jie Cup" pingpong championships will have many more ten years to go in the future barring any unforeseen circumstances.

"Po Jie Cup" championships will be celebrating its 43rd anniversary this year. Over the past four decades, it has cultivated numerous talented pingpong players for northern Kedah.

Naming the game after deceased father

Many people have no clue about the origin of "Po Jie Cup."

Pingpong is one of the traditional games in Chinese schools. In early 60’s, the then chairman of the Northern Kedah Chinese School Teachers Association Dai Ke Qiang felt that it was necessary to promote the sport at primary schools. As a result, he decided to organise the Northern Kedah pingpong championships for primary schools of different streams.

To commemorate their deceased father, Wu Po Jie, the chief sponsors of the championships, the Wu brothers named the cup after their father. Upon the request of the teachers' association, the Wu brothers promised to sponsor the championships every year.

Wu: Will continue sponsoring the championships

One of the sponsors, Wu Quan Rong said in an interview with Sin Chew Daily that as long as the Wu family was still able to sponsor the event, it wouldn't be a problem for the family to keep doingso on a yearly basis.

Wu Zi Zhan, meanwhile, admitted that he was not familiar with the existence of the pingpong competition until he was appointed by his grandfather to officiate the opening ceremony of "Po Jie Cup" some five or six years ago.

He said, both he and his brother were deeply touched by the enthusiasm of the teachers' association, positive responses from the schools, great efforts put in by the players as well as the continuous support from the parents.

Lin: Full support from the Wu family

Chairman of the teachers' association Lin Yue Lian told Sin Chew Daily she was amazed by the efforts of the Wu family who have sponsored the championships for so long.

According to her, not many people nowadays who are willing to sponsor an event continuously for such a long time. Therefore, she praised the Wu family for not only supporting the championships but also attending every game to support the players.

She concluded that the Wu family had contributed significantly to the development of pingpong game in northern Kedah as there were many national players hailing from northern Kedah such as Pan Mei Xin and Que Ye Ping. (Translated by LIM LIY EE/Sin Chew Daily)