Chasing Ball (2019)

Table tennis is one of the prevalent sports in China so it must come as no surprise that there will be a show featuring it. Chasing Ball 追球 is 36-episode drama that stars Kris Fan Shiqi and Bu Guanjin. It follows the life of Yan Xiaoxi, a transfer student at Tengyuan College who is a table tennis prodigy.

She supports her family by taking multiple jobs and also uses the prize money from her victories to pay her tuition. Her extraordinary skills are spotted by the president of the Tengyuan table tennis club, Qi Jinghao, who invites her to join his club as they aim for the championships. Yan Xiaoxi accepts Qi Jinghao’s offer and they revitalize the club, attracting talented members to bolster their ranks.

Kris Fan and Bu Guanjin may not be established names but both have found some success in romance dramas. Bu Guanjin starred in Suddenly This Summer opposite Bai Yu. Fans of the underrated Where The Lost Ones Go have thrown heaps of praise on Kris Fan’s portrayal as the lead. Playing a tennis pro is quite a change for both stars who underwent training for the drama.

Li Yitong, Huang Shengchi, Zhu Yuanbing, Li Wenhan, Lu Yangyang, Hong Xiao and Li Xikan complete the youthful cast. Like in most sports themed shows, I would expect a lot of heart-pumping competitions. Who knows? Maybe it can even inspire some of us to take up table tennis one day.

Release Date: June 17, 2019 iQIYI

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