Honoring influencers of China

Members representing China's national diving "dream team" receive an award in the sports sector. Zou Hong / China Daily

The Beijing medical aid team to Africa, a group that dispatched 43 teams to 11 African countries and regions, and Taiwan Buddhist nun Cheng Yen and her charity the Tzu Chi Foundation, won awards honoring their contribution to public affairs.

"We lost six colleagues in the fight against Ebola. The biggest challenge was to persuade Africans to understand the infected patients must be isolated," Beijing medical team representative Kong Qingyu says.

"The medical team stuck to their missions and jobs, and reflected China's image as a country that takes responsibility during major international incidents with a determined sprit," says Kong, former deputy director of Beijing Anzhen Hospital.

In the sports sector, China's national diving "dream team" and Taiwan "woodball's father" Weng Ming-hui, who invented the game of woodball, a Chinese version of golf, in the 1990s, both won awards. Woodball has gained popularity in Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea.

Chinese operatic soprano He Hui and Tan Yuanyuan, principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet, were honored as China's major influences in the artistic sector.

After a 13-hour international flight, Tan says her first priority is to find a room for her daily practice.

"Ballet dancers have to practice every day and must be clear about the dos and don'ts. It is tough to become a ballet dancer, but it's worth it. I love to swirl on the stage," says Tan.

Qiu Jiayi, a graduate of The University of Nottingham from Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is one of the youngest winners. Qiu created a computer simulation to evaluate the potential of London's ground source heat pump system. The 24-year-old was the first non-British winner of the Royal Engineers Registration construction equipment Chairman's Award in the United Kingdom.

Some 100 individuals and organizations have been honored at the awards in the past eight years.

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