A scene in the movie. [Photo provided to China Daily]

As one of the most popular sports in China, ping-pong will become the "protagonist" on the silver screen during the forthcoming Spring Festival.

Ping Pong: The Triumph, co-directed by Deng Chao and Yu Baimei, held its premiere in Beijing on Jan 18, gathering the cast stars, such as Sun Li, Xu Weizhou, Duan Bowen and Cai Yida.

Revisiting the striving of China's national table tennis team in early 1990s, the movie follows the team's chief coach to lead his newly established, once-deemed-underdog team to win the Swaythling Cup at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in 1995.

Fu Ruoqing, chairman at China Film Co Ltd, said the movie marks one of the best sports-themed films within recent several years, adding that he believes Chinese athletes' striving spirit will bring strength and courage to the domestic audience in the upcoming Lunar New Year.

The film, starring director-actor Deng as the chief coach, will be released on Jan 24, the third day of Spring Festival.

The movie held a preview screening in Beijing on Jan 18. [Photo provided to China Daily]