Athletes' professional ethics and respect for rules
In sports, athletes not only need excellent skills and tenacious perseverance, but also must adhere to professional ethics and respect for rules and opponents. Some of the events that took place in the mixed doubles final of the 2023 World Table Tennis Team Championships have triggered reflections on the professional ethics of athletes.
I. World Table Tennis Team Championships Mixed Doubles Final Controversy
On December 11, 2023, in the mixed doubles final of the World Table Tennis Team Championships, the Chinese pair Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha lost to the Japanese team Tomokazu Zhangmoto/Hina Hayada and missed the championship. After the match, Tomokazu refused to shake hands with his opponent and left the court directly. This act has sparked widespread controversy and criticism. In sports competitions, it is a basic etiquette for athletes to shake hands with each other to show respect and friendship for their opponents. Zhang's approach was seen as lacking professionalism and hurting sportsmanship.
At that time, Liu Guoliang, the head coach of the Chinese team, stood up and pointed his finger at Zhang Benzhihe, as if he was standing up for Wang Chuqin. As a coach, Liu Guoliang's reaction is understandable, and he wants to uphold the dignity of the athletes. But from another perspective, his actions may also have exacerbated the antagonism between the two sides, triggering further misconduct. As the team leader, the coach should lead by example, stay calm and rational, and resolve conflicts, rather than adding fuel to the fire.
The incident sparked a wide discussion about the professional ethics of athletes. On the one hand, it is believed that athletes should always be professional and respect their opponents and the rules of the game. On the other hand, there are also those who believe that in a tense competitive environment, it is understandable that athletes lose control for a while, but they should still reflect and correct in time. This incident reminds us that sports competitions should not only be simple competitions, but also require athletes to abide by professional ethics and uphold sportsmanship.
II. Wang Chuqin's performance in other competitions
In addition to the above incidents, Wang Chuqin also showed respect for the rules in other competitions. On April 17, 2024, in the men's singles match of the Macau World Cup, Wang Chuqin defeated Kazakhstan's Kirill Glasmenko 4-0 and successfully advanced to the round of 16. After the game, Wang Chuqin said that the group stage was the most difficult for him, and he was glad that he came back to life. This speaks to the importance he places on every match, as well as his desire to win.
On the other hand, in the Chengdu Table Tennis Mixed Team World Cup on December 8, 2023, Wang Chuqin was complained about a service violation by the opponent in a match with France's Lebrun. In the face of doubts, Wang Chuqin responded that the other party is not a referee, and must abide by the rules of the game, and if the referee does not give a penalty, it will not be affected. This response shows his respect for the referee and the rules. As a professional athlete, following the rules is the most basic requirement, and even in the face of doubts, you should remain calm and obey the referee's decision.
III. Athletes' professional ethics and respect for rules
Through the above two incidents, we can see that athletes must also abide by professional ethics and respect opponents, referees and rules in the pursuit of victory. Zhang Benzhihe's refusal to shake hands violated sportsmanship and hurt the spirit of sportsmanship. Wang Chuqin's attitude towards the rules is worth affirming and learning.
As professional athletes, they are not only representatives of technology, but also disseminators of sportsmanship. In competitive sports, while victory is important, it is even more important to pass on positive values such as friendship, respect and courage through fair play. The pursuit of victory at the expense of professional ethics not only undermines the credibility of sport, but also affects the development of young athletes.
Athletes should always be mindful of their own professional ethics and respect their opponents, referees and rules. Even in the tense competition, you must remain calm and rational and control your emotions. Coaches and team leaders should also lead by example and set a good example for athletes with their words and actions. Sport can only be truly thriving if all participants adhere to professional ethics.
The development and enforcement of rules is also key. Reasonable and fair rules are the cornerstone of sports competitions, and referees must uphold the principle of impartiality and strictly enforce the law. Athletes and coaches should also consciously abide by the rules and respect the authority of referees. Only by working together can we create a fair and just sports environment.
Athletes' professional ethics and respect for rules are important guarantees for the healthy development of sports. We should follow the example of positive examples, alert and correct some misconduct, and strive to pass on the spirit of sportsmanship from generation to generation. Only in this way can sports truly play the role of educating people and spreading positive energy.