Chinese Taipei athletes feel at home in Hangzhou

Another Chinese Taipei female kabaddi athlete, Hu Yu-chen, expressed deep gratitude for the enthusiastic local fans cheering them on.

"Having the crowd firmly in our corner provided tremendous momentum as we made our debut," Hu said, adding that her team was encouraged by the lively encouragement throughout the match.

Chinese Taipei gymnast Lee Chih-kai, who took gold in the men's pommel horse on Sept 28, also expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received, during a post-match interview.

"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the spectators' continued cheering", he said.

Chinese Taipei table tennis player Chen Szu-Yu, who competed in a women's doubles match on Sept 29, said that the local arena is more spacious than where she had played before, allowing for a larger number of spectators.

The enthusiastic crowd created a really vibrant atmosphere, Chen said.

Hsiao Shu-feng, a sports researcher with the Chinese Taipei delegation, said that everyone she encountered in Hangzhou, from volunteers to staff members and local residents, displayed a remarkable politeness and hospitality.

"Their warmth left a lasting impression on me," Hsiao said.

Sun Jie, a 40-year-old science teacher from Xiaoshan, Zhejiang province, also witnessed Chinese Taipei's performance in the women's kabaddi semi-final.

He said due to Chinese Taipei's past achievements in this sport, he has been a long-time fan.

Sun said he knew that Chinese Taipei previously won the bronze medal at the Jakarta Asian Games, so during this competition, he enthusiastically lent his support, aiming to propel them towards even greater achievements.

"I am proud of their achievement in the sport," Sun said.

Another spectator at the match, Ni Danping, said: "I hope they can feel the support of their compatriots for them."

Zhu Weijie contributed to this story.