来源：国际乒联官网
Francis Frimpong, a different route to the highest level
Francis Frimpong(王龙): 另类乒乓梦，殊途通蓝牌
11 Jul 2017
The dream was to play for his country but for Francis Frimpong, a graduate of the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana; the dream was never realised.
Francis Frimpong（王龙），毕业于加纳温尼巴教育大学，一直以来他的梦想都是成为一名优秀的乒乓球运动员，能代表国家参加比赛，但却一直未能如愿。
He competed at the 2008 West African University Games hosted by the University of Ghana but top level play was never to be his lot; however Francis Frimpong did find another route to high level, he followed the path of officialdom. He is Ghana’s only blue badge umpire; in that capacity he has travelled the world.
王龙参加了2008年由加纳大学举办的西非大学生运动会，但是比最高水平尚有差距。于是他另辟蹊径，转而成为裁判，并且做到了最好，为祖国争得荣誉。他是加纳唯一一位蓝牌裁判（蓝牌裁判，是经过国际乒联认证的国际最高级别的执裁裁判，具有执裁世界三大赛（奥运会、世乒赛、世界杯）等最高规格比赛的资格），也因此他的足迹遍布世界各地。
Francis Frimpong officiating at the recent Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open (Photo: courtesy of OlalekanOkusan)
by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
图为王龙最近在2017年国际乒联巡回赛中国公开赛中执裁画面
In recent times he has umpired in such tournaments as the World Championships, on the ITTF World Tour, at Olympic Games Qualification events, the African Games and the Africa Top 16 Cup.
近期，王龙已在多项锦标赛中执裁，如世界乒乓球锦标赛，国际乒联巡回赛，奥林匹克预选赛，全非运动会，乒乓球非洲杯16强等。
Currently, he is attending the Northwest Normal University in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China; the opportunity having been possible following a grant provided by the Chinese government.
目前，王龙在中国政府奖学金的资助下，就读于中国甘肃兰州的西北师范大学。
He spoke to OlalekanOkusan, the ITTF-Africa Press Officer
他同国际乒联非洲新闻中心负责人OLALEKAN OKUSAN说道：
乒乓球不仅仅是体育运动的一种形式，更是人人皆可参与的一种游戏活动。人们对于乒乓球的热爱不分年龄，性别，国籍，种族。
I am fascinated with all the mechanics and scientific principles applied to table tennis. It involves making decisions in microseconds due to the speed of the ball, the spin it carries and the trajectories. These characteristics have positive effects on my daily life.
我为乒乓球中所包含的技术以及科学原则所着迷。你必须在数微妙中根据球的速度，方向以及运动弧度迅速做出决断。这种特性对我的生活产生诸多积极影响。
I played in many competitions, including national open championships and the national table tennis league. I also won many matches for the University of Education, Winneba during my undergraduate studies. A memorable moment was the Men’s Singles quarter-final match at the 2008 West African University Games, when I lost three-nil to QuadriAruna.
我参加过很多比赛，包括国家乒乓球公开赛，国家乒乓球联盟赛。在加纳温尼巴教育大学读本科期间，我也为我的学校赢得了很多比赛，获得很多荣誉。但让我印象最深刻的一次比赛，是在2008年西非大学生运动会的男子单打四分之一决赛上，我以0比3输给了尼日利亚选手阿鲁纳。
I value fairness in life especially when there is the need to follow a set of rules or guidelines. As an umpire, I just love to make sure players compete fairly within the spirit of sportsmanship, observing all rules to obtain an unbiased result without unfair advantages. This makes me so happy whenever I receive invitation for any competition.
生活中，我十分注重公平公正，尤其是当遵守规则势在必行的时候。作为一名裁判，我最开心的是运动员们能在体育运动精神的指导下，公平竞争，遵守规则，最后获得公正裁决。我也因此在收到任何赛事邀请的时候都感到十分快乐。
I always wanted to study alongside playing table tennis but generally, the support system for intellectual in sports in Ghana has not been favourable. It was quite a challenge to train well for top competitions and still keep up with the pace of academics. Therefore, in order to remain in the game, I decided rather to give attention to the rules and regulations through its application. I knew being serious with it would take me closer to the highest competitions even if I was not playing again.
我一直都希望，在我打乒乓球的同时，能够学习更多知识。但是加纳的体育知识系统并不完备，因此要使得顶级运动员保持训练有素且在学术上不落后于人非常困难且具有挑战。为了能够继续参赛，我决定把注意力放在乒乓球规则的应用上。我很清楚，如果用心投入，我将与最高级赛事离得更近，即使我不是作为选手参与比赛了。
Getting to the table is just like walking into your office, you must dress correctly in your suit, you need to be as smart as the speed of the table tennis ball in play as well as making clear decisions in microseconds and ensure fairness throughout the match.
走上球场就像走进办公室一样，你必须衣冠整洁，思维像乒乓球的速度一样敏锐，在数微秒中迅速决断以确保比赛的公平公正。
Currently I am a postgraduate research student in China majoring in Sports Biomechanics, Human Movement Science. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a Diploma in Sports Coaching; both from the University of Education in Winneba, Ghana. I moved to China for postgraduate studies following an award of a scholarship by the government of China which comprises tuition fees, accommodation, a comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly allowance.
目前，我在中国上研究生，学习专业是运动生物力学，人体运动科学。我已获得了加纳温尼巴教育大学的体育教育的本科学历和运动训练的学士学位。现在我在中国政府奖学金的资助下在中国继续研究生学习。中国政府奖学金为我提供学费，住宿费，医疗保险以及每月的生活费。
Besides other important and personal reasons, I chose China over two other countries who also offered me similar scholarships at the same time, because here I have the opportunity to learn and research the sport that I love so much; it is their national sporting discipline.
撇弃我个人的种种原因，我放弃了同时提供给我差不多同样数目奖学金的另外两个国家而选择来到中国，是因为在这里我有机会学习和研究我所喜爱的体育运动-乒乓球，毕竟乒乓球是中国的国球。
I usually handle such matches with the necessary attention it needs by focusing on the ball in each rally and making sure all vital rules are observed by all players. Irrespective of the top players, I make sure no one gets unfair advantages in the matches.
在很多赛事中，在每一场比赛前我都要检查乒乓球的质量，确保所有运动员都能遵守规则。不管他们是否顶级运动员，我要确保比赛中没有人会得到不公正的待遇。
It feels great to be introduced on the world stage and get to hear my name and that of my motherland mentioned. Moreover, I always feel privileged whenever I realise most times that I am the youngest umpire amongst all officials at one competition or the other.
我很开心我能走向世界舞台，在这里能听到我的名字，以及我的祖国的名字让我倍感荣誉。更重要的是，每当我发现无论是什么比赛，大部分情况下我都是所有裁判中最年轻的一位时，我都倍感自豪。
There was a competition where I stood as the only umpire from Africa and similarly on several occasions as the only Ghanaian. Nevertheless, I never forget the day I received a confirmatory message for progressing as a blue badge umpire. I will want to continue umpire as long as I have the strength, time and opportunity to do so. Having experienced the World Championships, I want to work harder and make it to the Olympic Games in the near future.
我曾参加的赛事中，有一次我是作为唯一一个非洲裁判，还有相似的很多次我都是作为唯一的加纳裁判。然而我从没有忘记过我收到成功晋级蓝牌裁判确认函的一天。只要我还有力气、时间和机会，我就愿意并将努力继续我的裁判生涯。经过参与世乒赛，我希望通过我的努力能在不久之后参与奥林匹克运动会。
There has been great improvement in Africa. The level of play has improved in most African countries thanks to talent discovery and development programmesorganised by the African Table Tennis Federation. More importantly the current performance and rankings of African players has improved on the world stage.
非洲的体育水平明显提高。得益于非洲乒乓球联合会的大力支持及发展项目，大多数非洲国家的乒乓球水平已提高很多。更重要的是，来自非洲的乒乓球运动员们在世界舞台上的表现和排名均有所提高。
原文链接： Francis Frimpong, a different route to the highest level
