Xinhua News Agency Commentary: The spirit of women's volleyball blooms in the trough
Beijing, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Late on the night of 3 July Beijing time, Yuan Xinyue, the leader of the Chinese women's volleyball team who rarely updates her social media dynamics, posted a circle of friends: From the heart, everyone can see it. Strive not to be defined, be the best self, the best us, and fuel the future.
On June 4, Yuan Xinyue was in the Women's World Volleyball League tournament held in Nagoya, Japan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Xiaoyu
After the Chinese women's volleyball team went through a tortuous journey from six consecutive wins to four consecutive losses to two consecutive wins and entered the World Women's Volleyball League Finals, this simple text is evocative and thought-provoking.
Compared with riding the wind and waves in good times, what requires more courage and strength is perseverance in bad times. Like another Olympic champion on the team, Gong Xiangyu, Yuan Xinyue also experienced the joy of debut and peak in the Rio Olympic cycle, and now they are "veterans" with this team in the face of adversity. Expressing on social media is both a boost to oneself and a rare release.
Two wins in a row after four consecutive defeats, especially the five-game battle against the world's No. 1 Tokyo Olympic champion Team USA, shows that the spirit and cohesion of this rebuilding team is still there. Yuan Xinyue and his teammates were not dispersed by setbacks, not intimidated by doubts, nor lost confidence in themselves.
On July 2, China defeated the United States 3-2 in Suwon, South Korea. The picture shows the Chinese team players celebrating their victory. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Li Xianghao)
Having enjoyed cheers and endured accusations, perhaps such a life is more complete.
"The spirit of women's volleyball is not to win championships, but sometimes to know that you can't win and do your best. Even if it is shaky along the way, but stand up and shake the dust on the body, still have a firm look, as long as you can't kill me, I will fight with you to the end. Lang Ping's expression at the peak of the Chinese women's volleyball team has become a true portrayal of the current team carrying the weight forward. The connotation of the spirit of women's volleyball is far richer than the 10 dazzling championships won by the girls in the world's three major competitions, and it also contains the persistence of being judged and not changing their original intentions, the strength of not turning back and bravely taking on heavy burdens, and the heroism and tragedy of sacrificing others and knowing that they cannot do it.
Data map: On August 20, 2016, in the women's volleyball final of the Rio Olympics, the Chinese team defeated Serbia 3-1 to win the championship. The picture shows the Chinese team players celebrating their victory. Xinhua News Agency
In the history of the Chinese women's volleyball team, a group of athletes have fought unremittingly for the honor of the motherland, including lucky people with honors like Lang Ping and Zhu Ting, as well as climbers who have never reached the top such as Lai Yawen, Sun Yue, Wu Yongmei, and Wang Yimei. Despite the lack of the blessing of laurels, the latter is also an unswerving practitioner of the spirit of women's volleyball.
The spirit of women's volleyball contains not only the passion and emotion brought to us by victory, but also the tenacity and indomitability that defeat teaches us. Most ordinary people cannot stand at the top like the Chinese women's volleyball team, but this does not prevent us from never stopping to surpass ourselves under the inspiration of the spirit of the women's volleyball team.
On July 2, Chinese players and staff took a group photo after the World Women's Volleyball League in Suwon, South Korea. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yiliang
In Yuan Xinyue and Gong Xiangyu, who are looking forward to rebuilding their glory, Li Yingying and Diao Linyu, who are just picking up the big beams, Wang Yunbi and Wang Mengjie, who are still struggling after controversy, and all these girls who adhere to the dream of the national team in the trough, the spirit of the women's volleyball team is shining. Whether or not they realize their dream of returning to the top of the world, they are worthy heroes.
Chinese players Li Yingying, Gong Xiangyu and Wang Mengjie (from left to right) pose for a group photo after the game on July 2. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yiliang
Champions are hard to find, and the pursuit is always there. Regardless of the victory or defeat of the game, success or failure, and focus on the process of struggle, ordinary people can also become admirers and practitioners of the spirit of women's volleyball.