(Ecns.cn)--Many Chinese sports stars, including Yao Ming, have gone back to school after retiring from athletics. Here's a list of four "cool" sports celebrities turned students.
Yao Ming, the most serious
The former Houston Rockets center and No.1 draft pick in the 2002 NBA draft has returned to the books.
On November 7, Yao, at the age of 31, officially started his student life at Shanghai Jiaotong University, taking on a number of majors, including Economics.
"This is not a show, I'm here to study," said Yao after he had attended several classes. Usually, the low-profile basketball star sits at the back of the classroom and silently takes notes.
Deng Yaping, the most diligent
Known as the "Queen of ping-pong" and the "Chinese superwoman," the former world champion of table tennis is now an officer of the China Communist Youth League Beijing Committee, and had a legendary academic career.
After her retirement from sport, Deng entered Tsinghua University and majored in English. Then she pursued her M.A. and PhD degrees successively at Nottingham University and Cambridge University. Meanwhile, she was also appointed as an athlete commissioner on the International Olympic Committee.
As the most diligent celebrity student, Deng reportedly studied 14 hours a day during her time at Cambridge, getting up every morning at 5 o'clock.
