Ding Hui and Zhang Dayu were two of the hottest talking points in the Chinese sports media this past month. They are  currently the teenage sports stars du-jour in China, and could very well go on to become global stars. There are two main differences that seperate them: the sport which they play, and the color of their skin. These two individuals represent two distinct yet complementary hot topics in China: China’s rise as a sporting superpower, and China’s views of foreigners and minorities. However, their journey towards sports stardom represents a powerful common goal; social and humanitarian improvements in China.

Who is Zhang Dayu?

Zhang Dayu has already been labeled by the Chinese media as the next Yao Ming. He’s an 18 year old 7 foot center playing in the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) and averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds while going 56% from the field this past season.  He’s currently ranked 12th in the International Ballplayer list and managed to impress at the recent Nike Hoop Summit in Portland this year where he was the only Chinese player invited.

Zhang Dayu still needs to work on his strength and defense (fouled out 3 of his last 4 games), to be considered for the NBA draft but as his last regular season game for the Zhejiang Wanma Cyclones showed (18 points 9 rebounds 7-12FG) he has a bright future ahead of him. China seems non reluctant to cease in their goal of global domination of sports as they demonstrated in the Beijing Olympics, but basketball is an area that they have still yet to impress on. Comparisons to Yao Ming are premature, but currently he’s the best hope at improving China’s image in the NBA and worldwide after predominantly quiet seasons from the Lakers’ Sun Yue and the Nets’ Yi Jianlin. Large expectations for an 18 year old? No doubt. But this is the kind of pressure that is becoming common for young Chinese sports stars, where second place is sometimes regarded as a disservice to the country.

Who is Ding Hui?

Ding Hui this past week was allowed entry in to the Chinese Volleyball Olympic training squad and is one of the main new additions in China’s pursuit for a Gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Ding Hui was born and lives in Hangzhou, his mother is Chinese and his dad is South African, making him now the first black athlete in the Chinese Olympic team. He’s inclusion in the National Team has received mixed reactions from Chinese citizens. While foreign influx into the major Chinese cities in recent years and certainly the rise of Obama as the most powerful being in the world has helped many accept a positive image of people with African descent, there are still many in the countryside with unsophisticated and largely racist views. When mentioned in the Chinese media, Ding Hui is largely described through the “athleticism of his genes” and some have even noted the  “whiteness and size” of his teeth.

The government denies existance of racism in China, but there are still traces that can be openly seen, example: an area in Guangzhou with a large black population has been named “Chocolate City” by the local inhabitants. As Time reports, even in Hong Kong and the rest of Asia the view of black skin is regarded at times with negativity.  However, this is where sports starts and celebrities have played a huge part in improving awareness. NBA basketball stars such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are extremely popular figures in China and are major influences in changing backwards thinking in China’s undeveloped provinces where the NBA quite remarkably still reaches people’s homes. Kobe Bryant had received the second loudest cheer in the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony and many young Chinese fans claim that they prefer Kobe over local legend Yao Ming.

While seemingly two completely different individuals, Zhang Dayu and Ding Hui are on a similar path to helping China’s ambitions in becoming sports superpowers.  Zhang represents China’s growing expectations, while Ding represents China’s improving tolerance. Together they represent China’s emergence as a global minded country well out of isolationism. Their combined success will see China winning…in more ways than one.