In the build up to this weekend’s A1GP Shanghai, China, drivers from 14 different nations took part in a Traditional Chinese Sports Challenge at the Shanghai International Circuit on Thursday morning.
Taught by local school children, all 19 drivers quickly became familiar with the ancient Chinese sports of shuttlecock kicking, Chinese yo-yo (similar to diabolo) and rope skipping.
Lebanon’s Khalil Beschir, who was partnered with home nation driver Congfu Cheng for the rope skipping contest part of what was a triple-sports challenge, performed consistently well throughout the challenge to be crowned the overall winner at the end of the event.
Brazil’s Xandi Negrao showed natural skill during the shuttlecock kicking contest, which involved keeping a weighted feather shuttlecock up in the air using knees and feet.
Portugal’s Filipe Albuquerque surprised everyone by seemingly mastering the art of the Chinese yo-yo very quickly, performing tricks and impressing the local media. Albuquerque was never threatened and easily won the yo-yo challenge, revealing afterwards that he had spent time playing with Chinese yo-yos as a child in the playground at school and the skills had stayed with him.
At the end of the event, Cheng presented the winning drivers with a traditional Chinese scroll, before all the participants carried out a media interview session.
Switzerland’s Neel Jani also took part along with Great Britain’s Robbie Kerr and Duncan Tappy, Malaysian duo Alex Yoong and Aaron Lim, Ireland’s Adam Carroll, France’s new lead driver Franck Montagny and rookie Nicolas Prost, India’s Narain Karthikeyan and Parthiva Sureshwaren and Pakistan’s Adam Khan. Also taking part was New Zealand’s Jonny Reid, Australian rookie Nathan Antunes and the Netherlands’ duo Jeroen Bleekemolen and Arie Luyendyk Jr.
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