Xu Xin
Followers: 5,643,000 by November 8
By
NewsChina
Updated Jan.1
Chinese table tennis player Xu Xin listed high on Sina Weibo’s Hot Search ranking after getting an offer from Shanghai University to be a guest lecturer in its physical education college. The invitation is yet another of Xu’s recent accolades. He was elected deputy chairperson of the Asian Table Tennis Union in early October, two months after he and his teammates won gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Besides his athletic skill, Xu’s outgoing personality helped him win his spot on the Chinese national team, according to reports. Xu was a media fixture during the Tokyo Games, where he accepted many interviews and impressed reporters with his ability to give good soundbites. Xu has built a loyal following on Weibo, where he shares snippets of his daily life and family that add to his wholesome image. Observers said that Xu’s ability to interact well with young people helps to promote sports among China’s youth.