Summary of the Main Points
This article starts with the incident of the Chinese team being completely eliminated in the group stage of the TI15 Dota tournament held in Shanghai and then goes on to discuss the unusual series of losses in traditional national sports such as volleyball, basketball, football, badminton, and table tennis over the past two to three years. It doesn't stop at simply criticizing the athletes for not performing well; instead, it delves deeper into the issues, pointing out problems such as unscientific training methods, bureaucratic management, and the breakdown in public support during the transition to a professional sports system. The article also clarifies many conspiracy theories circulating online and ultimately highlights the underlying reason for people's collective nostalgia for past championship videos: everyone hopes that Chinese sports will return to relying on strength and proper techniques to win, rather than living forever in the memories of past glory.
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Detailed Explanation in Plain Language
1. Understanding the Scale of the Losses
Many people don't follow sports closely and don't realize the extent of the current poor performance. For example, in the past, it was widely believed that Chinese table tennis teams were invincible. However, now, even with seven or eight players competing in international tournaments, they often fail to make the quarterfinals, with some players getting eliminated in the first round. The Chinese women's volleyball team, which used to win the Asian Championships effortlessly, has recently lost the sole spot to the Olympics in Los Angeles. The Chinese men's badminton team achieved the worst result in 43 years at the World Championships, with no one making the quarterfinals, and three high-ranking officials within the badminton association have resigned in the past six months. It's important to note that many of the conspiracy theories online are just the emotional outpourings of fans. For instance, Feng Kun is not the head coach of the Thai women's volleyball team; her husband is in charge, and she serves as an assistant. Zhang Benzhihe and his family didn't get excluded from the national team; they chose to immigrate to Japan for their careers. The Chinese women's basketball team lost the first match to the United States by more than 30 points but then won the next two matches to advance from the group stage. The 18-year-old center Zhang Ziyu has great potential, but many of the criticisms are exaggerated.
2. Why Can't Simple Encouragement Work Any More?
After the volleyball team's loss, the medical officer on the team pointed out the real issue: the problem lies in the unscientific nature of their training and support systems. For example, while other teams warm up both physically and mentally before a match, preparing their nerves for fast-paced competition, the Chinese team still uses outdated methods. Their physical energy is not fully utilized, and their players often run out of strength halfway through the match. Other strong teams have established a comprehensive system for building strength, nutrition, and injury recovery, while the Chinese team either doesn't do these things or cuts corners. Additionally, many teams still engage in prolonged closed training sessions, which can lead to injuries and no opportunities to practice against external teams. This is like studying for exams at home without any real practice; you can't perform well in a formal exam if you haven't had any real experience.
3. The Old Methods Are No Longer Effective, and a New System Hasn't Been Established
The model of winning championships through a national sports system is no longer applicable to today's European and American teams. In the past, the Chinese government focused on identifying talented children and training them intensively, which led to rapid success. However, this approach is no longer effective. To transition to a professional sports model like Europe and America's, we need a large base of enthusiasts who enjoy the sport on a regular basis. For example, Argentine football is strong because there are many children playing on the streets, and one of them might become a Messi. In China, few people play volleyball or football after school, and parents prefer to spend money on extracurricular classes rather than sending their children to professional training programs. As a result, the talent pool for these sports is limited, and there's a lack of fresh talent. The same pattern applies to esports like Dota, where fewer young players are interested, making it difficult to find new talents.
4. Fans' Nostalgia Is About More Than Just Losing
The frequent references to past victories like the WINGS team's TI championship or the Olympic gold medals won under Lang Ping's leadership are not just about not accepting losses; it's about the many issues that deviate from the principles of sports. Coaches often lack specific tactics and rely on empty encouragement. Fans also complain about athletes spending more time on entertainment shows than on training. The real issue is that we can win with scientific training and fair competition, but we prefer to rely on chaotic external factors that undermine the sport.
5. We're Not Completely Done; We Just Need Patience
There's no need to claim that Chinese sports are doomed. The article mentions that Spain's football team also went through a period of decline after winning the World Cup and European Championship, but then recovered and won another European Championship ten years later. Our current problems are temporary, stemming from the transition from an old training system to a new one without a solid grassroots foundation. By promoting sports in schools and improving training and management practices, we can cultivate the next generation of talented athletes. The next golden age of Chinese sports will eventually arrive.