On September 19, the 20th Asian Games will open in Japan. At this Asian Games, there are more than 300 Chinese sports delegation members who have competed in the Olympics or Asian Games. What are the goals of these veterans for participating in this competition?
Wang Shun, swimmer of the Chinese Sports Delegation at the 20th Asian Games:To be able to represent the country in the Asian Games for the fifth time, I will go all out. I hope the flag can be raised and the national anthem played.
This is 32-year-old swimmer Wang Shun, who is about to embark on his fifth Asian Games trip. He is also the oldest member of the Chinese swimming team and has participated in the most competitions. At the National Swimming Championships in June this year, he swam 1 minute, 56 seconds and 16 seconds in the men’s 200-meter individual medley final. He was the only “post-90s” in the final group. His goal for the Asian Games is to swim within 1 minute and 56 seconds.
Wang Shun is not the only one holding out. There are 815 athletes in this Chinese sports delegation, including 36 Olympic champions from 13 sports including swimming, badminton, volleyball, etc., and 306 people who have competed in the Olympics or Asian Games. Compared with the 548 new faces, these famous players form another background of this team.
Chang Hao, captain of the Chinese Flower Parade Team of the Chinese Sports Delegation at the 20th Asian Games:The goal I set for myself at that time was to retire after the National Games. Later, coach Zhang Xiaohuan talked to me and said that he hoped to lead a group of young players and not just hand over the baton to their hands all at once. If I was here, I could help the team share some of the pressure.
Chang Hao is good at difficult air lifts and handstand supports. She has always completed the highest visual point of the entire program. This position is also known as the “top”. In the past, there was no one to replace the “top”. In the collective skill optional program, Chang Hao completed all 7 lifts alone. Last year, the twin sisters Lin Yanjun and Lin Yanhan in the team began to try to be the top players with the help of Chang Hao.
Chang Hao, captain of the Chinese Flower Parade Team of the Chinese Sports Delegation at the 20th Asian Games:The plan is to have Lin Yanjun do two at the Asian Games this year, Lin Yanhan do one, and I will do four, which is to slowly hand over the lifts to them one by one.
From the 2006 Doha Asian Games to the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, China Flower Tour has achieved five consecutive championships in collective events. The way to continue its glory is that the famous generals hand it over hand by hand.
The orderly transition between old and new also occurs in the track and field team. The men’s and women’s 4×100-meter relay in this Asian Games can completely form a new lineup. Why should the old lead the new? The answer given by Chen Chen, the on-site announcer of the Chinese Athletics Association, is “experience inheritance.”
Chen Chen, on-site announcer of the Chinese Athletics Association:Xie Zhenye and Ge Manqi each won two gold medals in the last Asian Games. Players with such competition experience can have a so-called vicarious experience inheritance in terms of shallow cognitive anxiety and some self-confidence anxiety. For example, Ge Manqi was born in the 200 meters and then ran the 100 meters. Xie Zhenye was also born in the 200 meters and ran the 100 meters. They can run 2, 3 or 4 bars. No matter which bar has a problem, they can immediately rely on their absolute personal ability to make up for it.
There is another special feature about famous players: they often have a deeper understanding of sports and sportsmanship, and a more transparent view of victory and defeat.
The 20th Asian Games Chinese Sports Delegation Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team Liberator Wang Mengjie:How can we want to win but not be afraid of losing? I think after experiencing so many competitions, I actually gradually understood that there is no permanent winner in competitive sports. I think the most important thing is to give your best in every game and leave no regrets. Now I actually enjoy the game itself more and cherish every opportunity to represent the national team.
