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Because he has a black birthmark on the left side of his face, people who know him well call him "Black Zhang".
Zhang Xishan, born in 1934, is a native of Shenyang, Liaoning Province.
In 1949, he joined the Northeast Basketball Team. At the age of 19, he entered the central sports training class (that is, the national team at that time). He played as an organizational defender on the field, had a tough style, and was especially known for his excellent defense, so he was called "iron defender".
1959 against Bulgaria breakthrough Mitchev
In 2017, Yao Ming became the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association and set up two national teams (red team and blue team), in fact, as early as the 50s, Chinese basketball also had two national teams, also red team and blue team.
In 1952, the basketball class of the Central Sports Training Class was established in Beijing, which was later renamed the Basketball Class of the Central Institute of Physical Education, and Mou Zuoyun served as the coach of the men's basketball team. In order to discover and select more basketball talents, the basketball class has formed two teams, namely the red team of the sports training class and the blue team of the sports training class, also known as the Beijing red team and the Beijing blue team.
At that time, the red team included Yang Boyong, Qian Chenghai, Zhang Xishan, Liu Guiyi, etc., and the main task was to participate in the 16th Olympic Games held in Melbourne in 1956.
1956 national men's basketball team, the left 1 in the back row is Zhang Xishan
The coach of the blue team is Zhang Changlu, the team members include Zhang Guanglie, He Shisun, Wang Yicheng, etc., the task of the blue team is to supplement the strength of the red team and prepare for other international competitions, the gap between the red and blue teams is not large, and the red team is slightly stronger.
Unfortunately, due to political reasons, the red team, the Chinese men's basketball team, failed to participate in the Melbourne Olympic Games. In the same year, the three major national teams were temporarily disbanded. Marshal He Long gave instructions to delegate the national team to Beijing, that is, to represent Beijing and also represent the national team.
In 1957 and 1960, Zhang Xishan represented Beijing twice in the National Men's Basketball League, both of which won the second place.
From left in the front row: Wang Lifa, Chen Wenbin, Ju Fenkang, and from left in the back row: Liu Guiyi, Zhang Xishan, Yang Boyong
In 1959, the National Sports Commission decided to rebuild the national team, and Yang Boyong, Qian Chenghai, Zhang Xishan and others returned to the national team.
At that time, it was still divided into two national teams, called the united first team and the second team. The United One, that is, the national first team, mainly cooperated with the Bayi team to form the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and its members included Yang Boyong, Qian Chenghai, Zhang Xishan, and Zhang Guanglu. United II is the national second team.
In 1965, the united first team prepared for the friendly basketball tournament of socialist countries. The 31-year-old Zhang Xishan was in the united second team, and coach Chen Wenbin transferred Zhang Xishan to the united first team, and finally won the third place.
In the national team for more than 10 years, Zhang Xishan has represented the Chinese men's basketball team and has visited many countries. He achieved good results in the competition and won honors for the motherland.
Zhang Xishan played as a defender on the field, and was on a par with Yang Boyong, Qian Chenghai and others. He and Qian Chenghai were fierce and dexterous, and played an important role in attack and defense.
Family portrait of the Beijing men's basketball team in the 1950s and 1960s
He is very physically fit and very technically well-rounded. Defensive ability is outstanding, fierce defense often causes opponents to make mistakes; when attacking, the passing is flexible and diverse, the concealment is strong, the speed of advancement is extremely fast, and the double foot jump is particularly outstanding.
Together with Qian Chenghai and Yang Boyong, he became an important implementer of the "small, fast, accurate and smart" technical and tactical style of the Chinese men's basketball team in the 50s.
Not only is he defensively good, but he is also experienced in the game and is good at creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. He has a variety of passing styles, and he can't defend himself against the west.
In the game, Zhang Xishan made a basket shot
At the 1954 World University Games, the Chinese men's basketball team played against Hungary, zhang Xishan, as a substitute, was sent by the coach to start the game, he played the whole 40 minutes, scored 12 points, and played the momentum of Chinese basketball.
Not only that, but he also has many nicknames. "Aerial Tank", "Defensive Overlord", "Spring", "Big Flower Gun".
From these nicknames, we can see that Zhang Xishan's body is good, the breakthrough is unstoppable, the defense is excellent, the bouncing power is good, good at physical confrontation in the air, and also has the characteristics of flexibility and speed.
In the face of foreign centers of more than 2 meters, Zhang Xishan, who is only 1.88 meters tall, is often defended. Although there is a gap in height, he is fierce in defense and quick in stealing, often leaving opponents helpless and lacking offensive skills.
Zhang Xishan basket
Teammate Zhang Guanglie gave him another nickname, "Three Black Players".
One is that the face is black, and there is a black birthmark on the left side of the face; the second is the black hand, the ball is broken quickly, and the hand is stable and fierce; the third is the black foot, the foot moves fast, and the opponent's route is accurately judged.
He has a fierce force when he plays, which can deter opponents. He said that the basketball court is like a battlefield, and the battlefield does not need cowards, and Sven and gentle are not good at basketball.
Back to the Beijing team. In 1966, Zhang Xishan was a player and coach. In order to maintain good physical fitness, he still maintains high-intensity training. Being able to have such a physical quality has a lot to do with his hard work and persistent training, and he is the first excellent national player to attach importance to strength and confrontation.
However, due to the influence of the Cultural Revolution, the national sports competition was suspended, and the Beijing team was forced to stop training. Most of the team members were forced to change careers, and Zhang Xishan and several team members did not give up and still maintained their daily training.
Around 1970, the sports industry began to recover, and professional teams began to recover and rebuild. In the joint team match between the Beijing team and the national team and the Bayi team, Wu Xinshui had already emerged and was very difficult to defend. At this time, Zhang Xishan, who was 10 years older than Wu Xinshui, took on the heavy responsibility of defense.
During a defense, Wu Xinshui was in a mess at his feet, lost his balance and fell, and his arm was broken. Everyone once again witnessed Zhang Xishan's defensive skills.
Zhang Xishan faced Soviet center Crumin for a layup
Zhang Xishan played in the Beijing team until he retired at the age of 38, after which he devoted himself to coaching.
Because he came out to play at a very young age, his education level was not high, but he was very studious. He copied Chen Wenbin's training plan and then summed up his own coaching style.
During his leadership, he led the Beijing team to participate in major domestic competitions such as the National Men's Basketball League and the National Games, and achieved three championships and three runners-up. And trained Zhang Weiping, Huang Jiepin and other outstanding national players.
In the 1965 Second Games, the Beijing team won the first place;
In the 1971 National Men's Basketball League, Beijing won the first place;
In the 1972 Pentathlon Games, the Beijing team won the second place;
In the 1973 National Men's Basketball League, Beijing won the second place;
In the 1975 Three Games, the Beijing team won the second place;
In the 1976 National Men's Basketball League, Beijing won the first place.
Zhang Xishan jumper
In 1977, he was sent to work for the Beijing Municipal Sports Commission.
In 1978, he was sent to Burundi in Africa as a foreign aid coach.
After returning in 1981, he worked in the basketball class of the Beijing Municipal Sports Brigade. He also served as the head coach of the Chinese youth men's basketball team.
In 1984, wheelchair basketball began to be introduced to China, and the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation found Zhang Xishan, who took it without a moment's hesitation. He is strict and patient, caring for the disabled athletes as much as his own children, from not understanding the rules to winning the championship.
In 1984, the first Paralympic Games, Beijing team vs Guangzhou team
He led the Beijing Wheelchair Basketball Team for the Disabled and won the first, second and third National Paralympic Games championships.
He then served as the head coach of the Chinese wheelchair men's basketball team. At the 6th Far South Games in 1994, the Chinese team defeated the Australian team in the final and was relegated to the second place, and Zhang Xishan was named the "Top Ten" coaches.
In 1995, the Beijing team represented the country in the Olympic Qualifiers held in Japan. Zhang Xishan has made great contributions to the development of wheelchair basketball for the disabled in China.
In 1987, he served as the executive deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Sports Brigade and the vice chairman of the Beijing Basketball Association.
He retired in 1997.
In 1999, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of New China, the Chinese Basketball Association selected the "50 Masters of Basketball in New China", and Zhang Xishan was listed among them. This is a great affirmation of his contribution to the cause of Chinese basketball.
On May 10, 2009, Zhang Xishan died in Beijing at the age of 75.
The farewell ceremony of the body was held in the Orchid Hall of The Babaoshan Funeral Home in Beijing, and more than 300 people from all walks of life, including Zhang Changlu and Yang Boyong, elders of the Chinese basketball court; Han Maofu and Guo Yupei, elders of the Chinese basketball refereeing circle; and members of the Beijing wheelchair basketball team, went to Babaoshan to send off Zhang Xishan. It can be seen that Zhang Xishan's status and admiration in the basketball world are great.
Zhang Xishan dedicated his life to the basketball cause of our country. Although he left us, his self-improvement spirit of struggle will always be worthy of our learning and remembrance.
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