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Sonorous roses recreate the moment of glory
On a Saturday night in February 2022, when 22 o'clock Beijing time passed, the exciting moment finally arrived - the group stage between the Chinese women's football team and the strong Japanese team was about to start!
After several minutes of extremely tense confrontation, the two sides finally ended up in a 2-2 stalemate.
When the goal was scored, there were deafening cheers from the audience. The players pounced on the shooter and hugged each other ecstatically, and the joy of the moment was unparalleled.
As the mainstay of Sun Wen, she burst into tears and showed pride. After all kinds of hardships and setbacks, she is extremely pleased with this glory that belongs to the Chinese women's football team.
Once upon a time, in the days of frustration and questioning on the field, it was Sun Wen who gritted her teeth and persevered, made unremitting efforts, and shouldered the burden of women's football all the way. Now, finally regaining her glory on the green field, Sun Wen's face is filled with a long-lost smile, and her eyes radiate a confident look.
In the celebratory crowd, she silently watched the joyful figures of the young players, her eyes full of love. It was she and her teammates who used their young shoulders to support today's glory bit by bit.
When affirmation and doubt coexist, they interpret the reputation of "sonorous rose" with practical actions.
A young shooter who shines brightly
Dating back to the 1999 World Cup, Sun Wen, who was only 24 years old, won the top scorer and best player awards, and was known as "Maradona in a skirt".
Recalling the game scene of that year, Sun Wen's vigorous posture seems to still be skillful on the turf, her footsteps to control the ball are steady and powerful, and every shot hits the dead corner of the goal with unmistakable accuracy.
On the field, Sun Wen's eyes flashed with confidence, as if telling the desire for victory.
She bit her lip tightly, focused on defending her opponent, and suddenly turned around and burst into action, and the ball flew out like an arrow from a string, which can be called a peerless blow! When the far corner of the goal was spun into the net, Sun Wen finally smiled, waved her arms in celebration, and the scene also resounded with cheers.
However, behind this glory is her innocent love for football since she was a child, as well as the arduous process of entering a sports school and working hard when she was a teenager.
When she was a child, Sun Wen was like a sloppy girl, she couldn't wait to kick her homemade old ball on the playground after school, sometimes for hours, and it was late when she came home.
At the age of 5, Sun Wen bravely formed a women's football team with her classmates, who would have thought that this improvised team could sweep the champion team at that time with a 5-0 victory, and Sun Wen herself scored 4 goals alone in this game, so that the parents on the scene were amazed by her extraordinary talent.
After entering the junior sports school, Sun Wen worked diligently, even if she was slightly behind other classmates in the turn and start, she was not discouraged at all. On the contrary, she redoubled her training efforts throughout the year that followed, and finally stood out in the strength assessment and won a ticket to the national team.
Looking at Sun Wen, who was sweating profusely and wheezing, the coaches all showed a pleased smile on their faces.
The journey of life comes to a halt for the time being
In 2003, Sun Wen returned with a full harvest and officially announced her retirement. She stood in the middle of the familiar green field, scanning every inch of the lawn where she had fought, her eyes full of reluctance and nostalgia.
At this moment, Sun Wen's heart was full of mixed feelings, although the decision to retire was premeditated, but when it really came to this point, she was still a little hesitant.
After leaving the arena, Sun Wen was confused for a while. She started working in the media as a sports reporter, but her heart was always empty.
After an interview, Sun Wen wandered alone on the side of the field, saying to the people around her with a sad face: "I am always fascinated by the good times on the football field, how pure and simple life was at that time!" Seeing her frowning, everyone sighed that Sun Wen could no longer step her enthusiastic feet into the familiar and loving grass as before.
In order to find a new direction in life, Sun Wen resolutely went to the United States, where she continued her studies. However, in the process of studying, she was often bound by memories, always remembering the years when she worked the court.
As soon as Sun Wen's idea was revealed, it was strongly opposed by her parents, relatives and friends. Everyone thinks that they are getting old, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to make a comeback on the court.
Faced with the worries of her relatives and friends, Sun Wen could only be silent and secretly swallowed the regret in her heart.
After careful consideration, Sun Wen finally chose to retire behind the scenes and served as the deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Football Association, silently dedicating herself to the cause of women's football. Her current responsibilities involve the tedious affairs of the sports system's external communication, a far cry from the free-wheeled and unbridled lifestyle she used to have on the court.
Faced with the new environment, Sun Wen was initially in the predicament of self-adjustment. The sea of Wenshan Huihai in front of the desk made her a little at a loss, and the cheers on the field often echoed in her ears.
At the top decision-making level, she always had the anxiety and loss of not being able to return to her past footprints.
Nirvana's rebirth has propelled women's football to take off
In the years that followed, the development of Chinese women's football fell into a predicament, and the world ranking fell all the way, almost re-falling into the ranks of second-rate teams. As a former leader, Sun Wen is naturally heartbroken by this.
She is well aware that the constraints of social concepts and the lack of coaches to cultivate young talents are the main culprits restricting the take-off of women's football.
Sun Wen asked eloquently: "Although there are differences in the physiological structure of male and female football players, they are actually similar and common in other aspects such as tenacious struggle and teamwork.
She changed her words and pointed out: "What parent would want to see their daughter engage in this arduous sport? The so-called 'ladylike virtue' in the traditional concept is deeply rooted in people's hearts."
Sun Wen's questioning and firmness, like a butterfly in the butterfly effect, fanned its wings, deeply shocked the way forward of the Chinese women's football team.
In order to arouse the attention of all sectors of society and promote change in women's football, Sun Wen resolutely resigned from her senior leadership position. She declared to the media in a firm tone: "Any problem that can be easily solved with money is not a problem."
We rely too much on the veterans and neglect the development of young talent, which is the fundamental reason why the development of women's football has been hindered.
Seeing Sun Wen so decisive, the team members were all speechless and couldn't help but burst into tears. One of the team members lamented: "Last year our team experienced unspeakable difficulties, and that feeling was really unbearable!" Fortunately, their dedication and efforts were finally recognized and valued by the society.
Sun Wen's resignation attracted a lot of attention from the leadership, and she was soon re-promoted as head coach and began to develop young talents.
Recalling that it took five years of hard work to reach the peak of her career, Sun Wen attaches great importance to the mental training of young players, and she told everyone: "The growth of the soul and spirit is undoubtedly the most important key in all technical links.
Under the leadership of Sun Wen, the Chinese women's football team has regained its light. She always watched the young players fight bravely on the green field with kind eyes, and often had a happy smile on the corner of her mouth.
When she saw that some players showed tenacious fighting spirit in the game, Sun Wen's eyes would also show a look of pride.
Promote the cause of women's football with a higher vision
After leaving the position of head coach, Sun Wen was soon promoted to vice president of the Chinese Football Association and continued to work hard for the development of women's football at a higher level of leadership. Whenever she sees the young players on the field struggling on the green field, the familiar figure will make her look proud and smile with satisfaction.
As a former national star, Sun Wen undoubtedly remembers the glorious years vividly. She wants to do her best to provide valuable learning opportunities for young and talented players and build a ladder to the top of their careers.
Sun Wen knows that the development of women's football is by no means achieved overnight. After the defeat on the field, some of the men's soccer players actually returned home on private jets, and the appearance of triumphant and unscrupulous was simply incredible.
In contrast, Sun Wen's women's team showed a tenacious fighting spirit - they talked to each other and encouraged each other in the small dressing room.
Seeing such a stark contrast, Sun Wen said earnestly: "Only when the women's football team receives the attention and support it deserves, their future will be brighter." Otherwise, it will be difficult to display their talents on the field with only strength.
She hopes that through her own efforts, the society can gradually change its skeptical attitude towards women's football and give it understanding and recognition. "The growth process of China's elite athletes is long and tortuous, and we should walk with them with a tolerant and encouraging attitude, rather than narrowly criticizing and denying.
Now, at the critical moment of the re-emergence of the Chinese women's football team, Sun Wen will watch with admiration every drop of sweat of the young players on the field. All this is exactly what she longed for and looked forward to when she was fighting the green field.
She hopes that one day, when the national team is once again in the spotlight of the world on the field, the crowd will no longer question and ridicule the women's football cane, but will look at it with great respect and respect.