No pressure, just work hard!
2024-08-12
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Original title: Chinese women's curling team enters Olympic finals again after 16 years (lead)
No pressure, just fight! (Theme)
Hu Jianhua, special correspondent of China Sports Daily
When Ye Jiao blocked the last ball of the Belgian team, the score of the 23-meter ball was fixed at 3 to 2. The Chinese women's hockey girls raised their hands and cheered in celebration, tears could not help but flow down. In the women's hockey semi-finals of the Paris Olympics, the Chinese women's hockey team eliminated the Belgian team and entered the Olympic finals again after 16 years since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Chinese women's hockey team celebrates after winning. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ren Pengfei
After defeating Australia 3-2 in the quarter-finals, the Chinese women's team faced the European powerhouse Belgium in the semi-finals. On August 7, at the Yves Manor Olympic Stadium, a large number of Chinese fans came to cheer for the women's team. More than an hour before the start of the game, fans in the stands had already raised the five-star red flag.
In the first quarter, both teams played cautiously. Although Belgium had two shots, they failed to score. China's chance came more than two minutes into the second quarter. Yang Liu's shot from a short corner was blocked, and Zou Meirong scored on the rebound. China took the lead 1-0.
The Belgian team stepped up their attack, but they were saved by Chinese goalkeeper Ye Jiao for several short corner kicks. China maintained its lead and ended the first half with a score of 1-0.
After the change of sides, the opponent's offensive became more fierce, and even formed a continuous attack in the Chinese team's half for a period of time, but the Chinese team still resolved the opponent's offensive one by one with tenacious defense. The game continued until 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter, when the Belgian team got a short corner kick opportunity and scored a goal, tying the score to 1-1.
"In fact, I am also responsible for this short corner kick. I was fouled by the opponent's cross. I was really overwhelmed at that time because my mistake gave the opponent a chance." Zou Meirong said when recalling the game after the game.
Neither team made any progress in the last 2 minutes, and the score remained 1-1 until the end of the fourth quarter, when the game entered the 23-meter ball decider.
After Belgium scored the first goal, China missed the first 23-meter goal, and then Belgium scored another goal. The second Chinese player He Jiangxin scored the goal, and Ye Jiao also blocked Belgium's third goal. When China was trailing 1-2, it was Zou Meirong's turn to play. "I adjusted myself in time and scored this goal to tie the score." After scoring, Zou Meirong cried, "It is definitely stressful to play when you are behind, but you still have to muster up confidence and train day after day for this moment."
The fourth 23-meter ball of the Belgian team was blocked again by Ye Jiao who was in excellent form. Ma Ning scored the next goal and the Chinese team overtook their opponent 3-2. Then Ye Jiao blocked the last 23-meter ball of the Belgian team and the Chinese team eliminated their opponent and advanced to the final.
“When we entered the 23-meter shot decider, I kept telling myself to stay calm and that we would not give up.” After winning and walking off the field, Ye Jiao finally let her emotions out.
"Before the Olympics, and even after we entered the semi-finals, many people still thought we were underdogs. They kept judging us by our rankings," said Alison Annan, head coach of the Chinese women's team, after the game. "We won the championship at the Asian Games, and we are still moving forward at the Olympics. I have a group of very talented players. These young girls are sending different messages to the world."
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese women's hockey team won the silver medal, which was also the best result they had ever achieved in the Olympic Games. 16 years later, another group of young girls are about to stand on the field of the Olympic women's hockey finals, and they have the opportunity to challenge the highest podium again.
On August 9, Paris time, the Chinese women's hockey team will face the defending Olympic champion and world No. 1 team, the Netherlands, in the final. Annan said: "We will be ready, we have no pressure, and we will definitely go all out."
"Just fight!" Zou Meirong said, "Although the opponent is strong, we are not weak either." (Paris, August 8)
Source: China Sports Daily
