Years after Ding's retirement, she still enjoys huge popularity in the sport, as the clamor to meet the legend in Chengdu attests to.

"It's pretty impressive to see a person like Ding Ning. When she's here, everybody listens to her and watches her. She's here to support and inspire the Chinese team. It's great to have such a legend around us," said Gianluca Walther, the coach of the German men's team.

With Ding lending her support, the young student-athletes say the whole experience in Chengdu is inspirational.

"The World University Games are a platform for the world's best student-athletes. The event is full of vitality and energy, and we want to display our own vitality and passion," said He Zhuojia, a competitor from Shanghai University of Sport.

"Table tennis is not just about skill, it's also a great education that can transform us. I was not very strong physically when I was a little girl, and it was table tennis that made me more healthy and fit. I was also a very shy person who dared not to talk to anyone. But the sport made me more confident and outgoing."

Qian Tianyi, also representing Shanghai University of Sport, echoed those sentiments, telling China Daily that table tennis has made her a more courageous person and broadened her horizons.

"Thanks to the games and to table tennis, I am meeting so many different athletes from all over the world," said Qian. "Inside the athletes' village, we have many cultural activities. For instance, we played traditional Chinese games with foreign athletes. We queued up together, laughed together and played together. And they cheered for me."

Ding is also greatly enthused by the cross-cultural benefits of the games.

"The younger generation should learn about the world. The Chengdu FISU games provide athletes from around the world the opportunity to get to know each other and improve together. This is also a great platform for the world to learn more about Chengdu and China."