After losing 2-4 to Chinese Wang Hao in the ITTF Pro Tour men's quarter-finals Saturday afternoon, Olympic champion Ryu Seung Min approached Wang's coach Liu Guoliang, offering to donate 10 million won (10,000 U.S. dollars) to China's earthquake victims.

"I have been thinking about donating money since the earthquake hit Sichuan, but I don't know how," the South Korean told Liu.

Liu gave China's Red Cross telephone hotline and bank account to Ryu, saying: "I appreciate your kindness and Chinese people will like you even more."

"I had played in the Chinese table tennis league for the Sichuan club," Ryu replied. "I learnt a lot from Sichuan people, who have been really nice to me."

"You are already very popular with Chinese table tennis fans," Liu said to Ryu. "Next time you play in China, you will enjoy a huge home-court advantage."

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2008)