2016/4/30

Here comes the 11th year of Gobi Challenge, a major event for Chinese business schools across the Strait in three regions. NTU EMBA Gobi-11 Team met on Apr. 30 and sworn-in. After their 9-month, one-thousand KM of training, their team spirit and physical readiness shine on the audience.

“Start together, finish together!” is the core spirit of Gobi-11 this year. All team members at the oath-taking assembly show confidence about their strength, endurance, and unity that will be put to the ultimate test by an unforgiving desert. They are truly ready. Since their first contest in 2010, NTU EMBA is on its 7th mission of Gobi Challenge. They are the most experienced and best-performing team in Taiwan, and they will be passing 112 KM, a point-to-point journey, the same route taken by Xuanzang some 1300 years ago to obtain Buddhism scriptures, 1500 meters above sea-level, diurnal amplitude of 40 degrees, with only coordinates but not known roads, within 4 days from May 22 to 25. A local saying goes “Leather overcoat in the morning, yarn shirt in the noon.” That is how far the temperature difference can be in Gobi.

The 11th Gobi Challenge team already has some new records: total 51 university teams and 2500 people will be in the contest. NTU EMBA’s Gobi-11 Team includes Super Marathon superstar, Lin Yi-Jie; COO of KKBOX, Li Ming-Zhe, who lost 65 kg of weight just to get into the team; chairperson of Xin-Geng Urban Renewal; chairperson of Li-Cuan Technology, Liu Cheng-Zhi; vice president of ASE Group, Chen Guang-Xiong; Deputy CEO of Allianz Securities, Sun Wei-Xin; senior media professional, Zhao Sin-Ping; and many more entrepreneurs and top managers from hi-tech, IT, laws, biotech, and financial sectors. These business elites’ average age is 46; most of them have never received professional running training. However, driven by their dreams of conquering their own extreme, they have transformed from amateurs to Marathon contenders over a short period of time by sheer will power, and will meet the “800-miles of floating sands”, as history called, of the Gobi Desert that has no mercy for any lacking of stamina and combat readiness. According to NTU EMBA Gobi-11’s CEO, Liao Chang-Jian, “Gobi-11 now has strength beyond imaginable; we will be the focal point on the Gobi Desert, as usual.”

Super Marathon superstar, Lin Yi-Jie, who has crossed the Sahara Desert, the North Pole, and Gobi Desert as well, all on foot, and won the title of champion of the world’s 4 extreme landscape, will be an important member of NTU EMBA Gobi-11 Team. He is excited about taking the challenge along with his old school mates: “I’ve been to many contests, but this is the first time that I have so many fellow students with me. I saw them coming from knowing nothing about running to being ready for extremely difficult Gobi Challenge; their spirit is really something. I will start with them and finish with them.” A high profile member on the team is Li Ming-Zhe, COO of KKBOX, who lost 65 kg of weight by rapid walking and jogging for more than one year just to get into the team. He used to be burdened by his 142 kg of weight to the extent that simple walking could make him gasp. Now he is a seasoned runner who have been through 7 times semi-marathon and 2 times full-course marathon, and a running enthusiast weighing 76 kg with16.5% of BMI. All of these efforts are invested for only one goal: Gobi Challenge. “There is no miracle; you have to do it little by little. Running has not only changed my physical shape, but also my life. Gobi will be once-in-a-lifetime experience, that’s my dream. Go, Gobi-11,” said Li.

In the oath taking assembly, Dean Guo Ruei-Xiang; Dean of College of Management, who will be the team captain for the 5th time, said with emotion that “every time I think about the picture of everyone arrives at the finish line with hugging and tears, I am thrilled. The most precious part of Gobi Challenge is the process, where you conquer the extreme and yourself, where you fulfill your own dream by will power. It will be an experience of lifetime for every runner. It is the paradigm and spirit of NTU Team for these years.”

NTU Gobi-11 Team A presented the “Gobi General’s Order”, a performance combining drums and Er-Hu, demonstrating strength and beauty, that won the audience at oath taking assembly. Teams B and C jointly presented the “Gobi-Goblin” dance with their talents in music and dance, and is the most eye-catching performance of the day. Their team spirit and unity are unparalleled. Many businesses managed by NTU EMBA alumni members have also donated generously; they are Seattle Coffee, KKBOX, Lextar Electronics, Taiwan E-Go, Dolphin Logistics, Kingnet, Amulaire Electric Cars, Flying Wolf, A-So Shoes, Kang Chao Bilingual School, I-Care Health Institute, Dr. Wang, and Fong Shan Biotech. In addition, the Gobi-11 mascot, wearing standard orange Gobi-11 T-shirt, backpack, and sports cap, is designed by Lin Jing-Shen, CEO of Bone Collection. With tons of blessing and energy, TNU EMBA Gobi-11 will leave on May 19 and run for the honor of NTU and Taiwan.

NTU EMBA Gobi-11 Team A performs with strength and beauty.

NTU EMBA Gobi-11 Team B performs.

NTU EMBA Gobi-11 Team banner hand-over ceremony: 

Dean Guo Ruei-Xiang; Dean of College of Management, NTU, handing over the banner to Sea Urchin, captain of Team A

NTU EMBA Gobi-11 Team: Assassin, captain of Gobi-10 and Agar, captain of Gobi-11. 

Al members of NTU EMBA Gobi-11.