Wen | Yang Weige
Rugby is not popular in China, and there are not many fans, so the rugby match in the Olympic Games has not attracted much attention from domestic audiences.
However, this project you haven’t seen yet,China rugby girls have finished seventh in the women’s rugby sevens in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, winning China’s best performance in this Olympic event and creating the highest ranking of Asian women’s rugby teams in the Olympic Games.
As the first seven-a-side China rugby women’s team to enter the Olympic Games, their breakthrough has been recorded in the history of sports in China.
Two rugby girls are from Shanghai.
Liu Xiaoqian and Gu Yaoyao are both from Shanghai Institute of Physical Education.
Liu xiaoqian
In July, 2007, 11-year-old Liu Xiaoqian was selected by the teacher and entered the track and field training point of Ma Yinchu junior middle school, and began to carry out systematic basic track and field training. Won the first place in women’s 100 meters in provincial and municipal track and field competitions for many times.,Liu Xiaoqian’s talent in speed, strength and agility in the competition was favored by the coach of the women’s football team. After many times of communication, she joined the China women’s football reserve echelon.
In 2012, Liu Xiaoqian joined the Shanghai Rugby Team. She won the second place in the Asian Youth Championship and the Asian Rugby Championship on behalf of the China team. After less than two years of rugby training, she won the athlete level. In September, 2018, in the women’s rugby sevens final of the 18th Asian Games, China won a precious silver medal, and Liu Xiaoqian participated as the main force.
In 2019, during the training before the Asian rugby sevens qualifiers of the Tokyo Olympic Games,Liu Xiaoqian suffered many serious injuries and underwent many operations. In the end, she overcame the injury with tenacious perseverance and high self-disciplineAnd break throughSelf, as the main player, won the laurel and qualified for the Olympic Games.
The training of rugby events is very hard, with fierce collision and wind and sun. Liu Xiaoqian once said: "Since you chose it at the beginning, you must persist. You know the hardships of training, as long as you get used to it!"
Gu Yaoyao
Gu Yaoyao showed great athletic talent since she was a child. In 2009, she won the championship of women’s triple jump in city and county sports games. In 2011, with the recommendation of her coach, Gu Yaoyao came to the competitive school affiliated to Shanghai Institute of Physical Education and joined the school’s women’s football team. With her athletic talent and hard training, Gu Yaoyao’s technical level finally improved by leaps and bounds, and she was successfully selected for the national women’s football team in 2015.
As the captain of the Shanghai Women’s Rugby Team and the main player of the National Women’s Rugby Team, Gu Yaoyao won the fourth place in the women’s rugby competition in the 13th National Games in 2017, the ninth place in the Dubai World Rugby Series in 2018 and the second place in the Asian series in 2019.
Gu Yaoyao, who plays with the national team all the year round, doesn’t have all kinds of holidays like other students. She trains with the team every winter and summer vacation and on weekends. Talking about training, Gu Yaoyao once bluntly said: "Every training is very tired, and clothes are always soaked with sweat."
All graduate students.Excellent cultural achievements.
On August 4th, the author interviewed Xu Hui, the head coach of Shanghai rugby team, Wu Jianhong, the assistant coach, and their school sisters in Shanghai Institute of Physical Education. Listen to them talk about the training routine of Olympic athletes.
From left to right: head coach Xu Hui, assistant coach Wu Jianhong, junior sister Xiaochen and Zheng Wenyan Photography: Wang Fei.
Liu Xiaoqian and Gu Yaoyao have been in the national team for many years and have rich experience. The head coach Xu Hui is very proud to be able to play for the country in the Olympic Games. He believes that the two players have their own specialties, and Gu Yaoyao has strong organizational mobilization ability and excellent defense, which can create scoring opportunities for everyone. Liu Xiaoqian is mainly aggressive and easy to score.
Xu Dao said that he also communicated with two athletes after the game, and Gu Yaoyao was in good shape. Liu Xiaoqian was not able to play the last game for the national team because of her elbow injury during the war with the United States. She was aggrieved and was actively receiving treatment and trying to adjust her mentality. After the Olympic Games, they are preparing for the war in isolation in Tianjin, and then the national team will join forces to compete in the Xi ‘an National Games.
Talking about the impression of the two players when they entered the school, Xu Dao said that Gu Yaoyao was originally engaged in long jump track and field events, and Liu Xiaoqian also practiced track and field. They have been working hard since they joined the Shanghai rugby team. In particular, Liu Xiaoqian impressed him very deeply. In preparation for the international competition, Liu Xiaoqian was injured from knee to shoulder to elbow. So far, four operations have been performed. Pain is a test for athletes’ physical and psychological state. However, Liu Xiaoqian overcame physical pain and difficulties every time, and quickly returned to the stadium to continue training every time.
Rugby training ground
Asked if there is any good way to avoid injury, Xu Dao said:Competitive sports must go beyond the limits of human beings, so as to live up to the Olympic spirit of "higher, faster, stronger and more United".They also constantly teach players some skills and means in training, hoping to avoid injuries as much as possible.
Xu Hui, head coach of the Shanghai rugby team, and Wu Jianhong, assistant coach
Wu Jianhong, an assistant coach, accompanied the football team for training before they rushed to Tokyo. He is the unsung hero behind the Olympic athletes. Asked if the training of rugby is bitter, she said: She has been practicing rugby for ten years, and the longer she has been in contact with it, the more she likes it.
Talking about the two athletes, Wu Jianhong said: "Liu Xiaoqian has experienced many setbacks and has great courage. This spirit is worth learning. She is a very strong and dedicated girl. On the day before a shoulder surgery, she still insisted on training and came step by step to overcome difficulties in the process of injury. " Speaking of this, coach Wu’s voice has choked.
Speaking of the characteristics of the players of the Shanghai rugby team, Xu Dao particularly pointed out the combination of study and practice.
"Gu Yaoyao and Liu Xiaoqian have excellent cultural achievements and have always been an example for the younger generation to learn. They are graduate students in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Gu Yaoyao has obtained the teacher qualification certificate, and Liu Xiaoqian has been practicing oral English and improving her English. As a student athlete, learning is for more scientific training, and a deeper summary can be made after training. "
Xu Dao said that in addition to regular daily training, young players will be organized to watch every game during the Olympic Games to cheer for the national team and the teachers and sisters. Young players are growing up in competition and exercise. I believe that I will be able to make a name for myself in various competitions soon.
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