Chinese goalkeeper Zhou Jiaying (right) defends during a match on Feb. 6. On the same day, in the women's ice hockey group stage of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics held at the Wukesong Sports Center, the Chinese team defeated the Japanese team 2-1. Photo by Mao Jianjun, reporter of China News Service
Beijing, February 7 (Wang Hao) On the evening of the 6th, as Zhou Jiaying blocked the fifth penalty of the Japanese team, the Wukesong Sports Center erupted into huge cheers. The Chinese team's reversal victory over the powerful Japanese team in the women's ice hockey group stage of the Winter Olympics may surprise most spectators. When the game enters a penalty shootout, the ice rink becomes the stage for goalkeepers.
The group match with Japan is the third match of the Winter Olympics of the Chinese women's ice hockey team, and the previous one win and one loss can not guarantee the group qualification, and being scored by the Japanese team in the first quarter makes the situation of the Chinese team a little difficult.
The Japanese team scored the goal guarded by Zhou Jiaying. Under the tiger helmet that is all over the Internet, and inconsistency with the atmosphere of the sword-rattling ice hockey game, Zhou Jiaying has a gentle and cute face with a smile.
When he was new to ice hockey, the young Zhou Jiaying thought that the position of goalkeeper was cool, but he was opposed by his parents, because this position was too dangerous and the protective gear was far more expensive than other positions.
After successfully convincing her parents, she eventually became a goalkeeper. Her father, who was once an ice hockey goalkeeper, taught her many experiences.
At the end of last year, Zhou Jiaying fractured her left ankle during training, and in order to be able to participate in the Winter Olympics, she underwent a painful rehabilitation and returned to the ice rink 7 weeks after surgery. For the Chinese women's ice hockey team, it is not easy to return to the Winter Olympics after 12 years, and for Zhou Jiaying, it is also not easy to stand on the Winter Olympic field.
In the second game of the previous group stage, the Chinese team reversed the victory over Denmark in the case of the first goal conceded, and won the first victory of the Winter Olympics. After the game, Zhou Jiaying cried when he mentioned the injury in an interview.
After that game, she spoke to her parents. "My mom is very proud to be able to participate in the Winter Olympics, which is an honor in my life. I grew up, they worked hard and I'm happy to let them see the results now. ”
On February 6, in the women's ice hockey group stage of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics held at the Wukesong Sports Center, the Chinese team defeated Japan 2-1. The picture shows Zhou Jiaying, the goalkeeper of the Chinese team. Photo by Mao Jianjun, reporter of China News Service
And Zhou Jiaying's vulnerability seems to be only displayed outside the arena, on the field, she is as strong and firm as the tiger on the helmet and the dragon on the leg guard, guarding the territory of her own side.
Facing the menacing Japanese team, after falling behind by one goal, the Chinese team did not panic, and finally equalized in the third quarter, and both sides did not break the goal in extra time, and the game entered a penalty shootout.
One, two, three, four, accompanied by cheers from the audience, Zhou Jiaying blocked the first four penalties of the Japanese team. In other words, the four Japanese players faced Zhou Jiaying alone and all lost.
With such a "goal god", teammates can walk on the ice rink, play ice hockey, and shoot at the goal with more confidence. Miller, who made his fourth appearance in China, scored a penalty to help China score a point.
The fifth Japanese player stood on the ice rink, carrying the hopes of the whole team and sliding towards the goal guarded by Zhou Jiaying. However, like her teammates in front of her, she also lost. 2:1, the Chinese team reversed the victory.
After the game, the Chinese players hugged together in the field, the captain Yu Baiwei cried, and Zhou Jiaying instead smiled and came to the mixed picking area for an interview. "I cried too much the day before yesterday and today I saw the captain and my teammates crying, and I understand it very well." She said.
Before becoming a professional hockey player, Zhou Jiaying was a fund analyst working on Wall Street. Giving up such a high-paying job to devote himself to ice hockey, Zhou Jiaying said it was worth it. "I've always wanted to play professional hockey, and even if we didn't win the game, I thought it was worth it."
Perhaps for her, the love of ice hockey is indeed the best cure. Asked if his ankle still hurts standing on the ice rink, Zhou Jiaying replied cheerfully: No pain! (End)