On September 29, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Swimming Pool ushered in the last competition day of the Asian Games. The women's 50m butterfly and men's 50m breaststroke won the championship and runner-up, and Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang swam a new record. Subsequently, the women's 800-meter freestyle and men's 200-meter backstroke were also won by Li Bingjie and Xu Jiayu. On the closing day of the swimming event, the Chinese team won 4 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronzes, which ended successfully.
After winning the women's 50m butterfly championship at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Zhang Yufei cried very rarely.
She is a "steel warrior" who usually treats people with a smile, and this time she cried, not for herself, but for her opponent, Rikako Ikee.
China's Zhang Yufei (right) and Japan's Rikako Ikee after the women's 50m butterfly final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on September 29. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Yu
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Rikako Ikee was invincible in the pool, winning 6 golds and 2 silvers, and was named the "Most Valuable Athlete" of that Asian Games by the Olympic Council of Asia. At that time, Zhang Yufei was fledgling.
Zhang Yufei and Chi Jiang would have been a pair of good opponents, competing with each other, encouraging each other, and achieving each other.
However, Chi Jiang fell ill with leukemia in 2019, and not many people thought that this "genius girl" could come back.
The treatment was difficult, but Ikee showed extraordinary perseverance. During the treatment, she occasionally revealed some details of her life to fans, such as on her birthday, she said: "I can't eat fresh cream during treatment, and when I get home, I will definitely eat a delicious fresh cream cake." ”
Rikako Ikee at the Tokyo Water Sports Center on October 24, 2020. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Xiaoyi
Chi Jiang not only fights the disease, but also transmits positive energy to other patients through social networks. In March 2020, she returned to the pool to start training.
After physical and mental tempering, she finally made a comeback, and traveled step by step from the Japan National Competition to the World Series. Because her physical condition has not fully recovered, Rikako Ikee did not participate in many events at this Asian Games, and during the period she was unwell due to influenza, so she set her main attack direction in the 50-meter butterfly, hoping to win a personal medal.
In the preliminary round on the morning of the 29th, Chi Jiang successfully advanced to the final. She and Zhang Yufei finally met at the peak of the Asian Games.
In the final, when Chi Jiang touched the wall for the third time after Zhang Yufei and Yu Yiting, the audience burst into blessing and respectful applause.
Champion China's Zhang Yufei (middle), runner-up China's Yu Yiting (left) and third-place Japan's Rikako Ikee after the award ceremony on September 29. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi
Zhang Yufei said that when she stood on the podium and heard the live broadcast of "Chijiang Lihuazi", she felt her nose sour, but she felt a little embarrassed in front of the entire audience and the TV broadcast.
But when she saw Chi Jiang running to the coach with a bronze medal, "Smiling Angel" Zhang Yufei finally couldn't hold back. She wiped her tears and hugged Chi Jiang, and Yu Yiting, who won the runner-up, also had red eyes. The exit music after the award ceremony came to an abrupt end, a Japanese song jumped into his ears, and Ike E's eyes flashed with tears when the past glory moments were played on the big screen.
Champion China's Zhang Yufei (left) and runner-up Japan's Rikako Ikee after the award ceremony on September 29. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi
Chi Jiang is happy to have a player like Zhang Yufei in Asian swimming, and she said that she must work hard and catch up. During the interview, Zhang Yufei was still in tears, and after fighting with illness for two consecutive days, she also sighed about what she experienced during the return of Chijiang.
"Your appearance here is already a great miracle created by you." This is the voice of Zhang Yufei and everyone.
Zhang Yufei's tears fell for Chi Jiang at this moment.
On the podium, Chi Jiang wrapped her wrist around her wrist, and there was the same panda head rope as Zhang Yufei's head. Zhang Yufei previously said that she has always wanted to give Chi Jiang a gift that reflects Chinese customs and makes her like, and asked netizens to give ideas during the interview, what is the best gift to give? Ikee also replied in an interview, "I would like such a cute gift as a panda, which Japan does not have." ”
After the game on the 29th, Zhang Yufei happily told reporters, "The one she wore was given by me, and I told her that because she didn't have time to go out and buy a big one, she could only give her the (panda) head rope I brought with me." ”
Netizen: So moved
(Hangzhou Traffic 918)