by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Liu Guoliang, the Head Coach, has announced a short break for all players; they will return to training on Wednesday 1st February.

However, the members of the national team have already been celebrating; on Wednesday 25th January, they held a “Chun Wan”, the Spring Festival Gala.

A Chun Wan is almost a variety show where performers demonstrate different skills and talents to entertain the audience. It was reported that Ma Long and Ding Ning performed in a song number for their fans.

However, I hear that Xu Xin is the best singer and is very much following in the footsteps of the former Chinese international, Wang Tao; I understand he appeared in a “Chun Wan”, broadcast on Chinese National Television to celebrate the start of the New Year.

Anyone born in the Year of the Rooster is characterised as honest, energetic, intelligent, flexible and confident.

Each Chinese New Year is identified by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac; the Rooster, the 10th animal in the cycle. The next Year of the Rooster will be in 2029.

Chinese New Year is based roughly on the moon phase and is not the same each year but is between 21st January and 20th February.

So what is your sign? Calculate on a 12 year cycle; so if you were born in 1974 (1974 + 12 = 1986 + 12 = 1998 + 12 = 2010), you were born year of the Tiger. The guide may not be accurate if born January or February to guide.

Rat (2008), Ox (2009), Tiger (2010), Rabbit (2011), Dragon (2012), Snake (2013), Horse (2014), Sheep (2015), Monkey 2016), Rooster (2017), Dog (2018), Pig (2019)