Less talk as McKenzie slugs it out with table tennis bat

It was time to slug it out on the table tennis court and less talk for Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and Chinese ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng.

- Brian Sokutu

The closely contested match on Monday at the Freedom Park Heritage Site in Pretoria, began shortly after McKenzie received a donation of table tennis equipment - on behalf of the local sporting fraternity - from the Chinese embassy, with Wu challenging McKenzie to the court.

With both men dressed in dark suits after addressing a ceremony to officially hand over and receive the shipment, it was time for the burly McKenzie to prove himself better than Wu - ironically the Chinese are world-renowned table tennis gurus.

"Good game," said a laughing but relieved McKenzie, who showed Wu his grip and swerve of bat was still strong as he won the game 5-4.

The equipment was donated by the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Table Tennis Association.