Beijing News Sports | Reporter Wang Xiaoxiao
After finishing the training at the Beijing station, Liang Zhuang and Liu Wei hurried to the next city. One of the two is the head coach of the Chinese Frisbee team, and the other has served as the captain of the national team in the Asian Championships. At a time when Frisbee sports are so popular among the people, the two of them are more excited while being relieved. "China Frisbee will reach the top of Asia in the future, and compete with European and American strong teams on the world's highest stage." Liang Zhuang said, "I have confidence!"
Chinese Frisbee team
"civil team" that carries national honors at the 2019 Asian Championships
Frisbee "China Team", but it was an uncertified "civil team" back then.
In the first decade of the 21st century, Frisbee was rarely known in the country. Audiences formed a sports association that does not have an official certification, and they are connected with the single international organization, the World Frisbee Federation (WFDF). "At that time, the circle was very small, with only more than 1,000 people nationwide. When the person in charge received the registration notice from WFDF, he used QQ group or email to contact everyone. When and where there were competitions, those who had the conditions could sign up, and then choose a team from the few self-recommendators." Liang Zhuang recalled.
The so-called "conditional" is because there is no official organization to participate in the competition abroad, and there is no funding or sponsorship. Team members need to ask for leave from the unit and school, and they have to pay out of their own pockets. The "choose fees" of Asian competitions are lower, and the air tickets, visas, accommodation, miscellaneous fees... can save money by spending 7,000 or 8,000 yuan, and it will cost about 20,000 yuan to go to the United States. But this will not hurt the sense of honor in the hearts of the players. "The order book contains 'China Team', you represent China."
Liang Zhuang participated in international competitions in 2017 and represented the "China Team" in international competitions for the first time in 2017. Liang Zhuang, who graduated from Tianjin Sports College and gloriously joined the party when he was at school, stood on the field wearing the national flag, feeling extremely excited and proud. "Not everyone has this opportunity. Wearing this outfit means carrying a responsibility," he said.
However, pride cannot make up for the gap in strength. China's Frisbee has been in short operation and has a small population base. It was common for them to be "abuse" in international competitions in their early years, and they even had the painful experience of being "shaved". When Liang Zhuang participated in the competition, although his strength had improved, the gap with the world's powerhouse was still quite large. Although the "foreigners" are friendly, they will underestimate the Chinese team at the competitive level, feel that the Chinese team is not threatening, and even send substitutes. "So I've been playing hard as soon as I got on the court. I have to sky (take the ball with all my strength to jump in the air). Even if I can't win, I must show the spirit of the Chinese. Let the opponent know that although my level is not high for the time being, I am taking this sport seriously just like you, and I cannot lose the fighting spirit."
Liang Zhuang's international competition, sky took over
, and was known as the "No. 1 Frisbee in China", and once took the lead in forming the "all-Chinese Frisbee" Frisbee team. According to WFDF regulations, foreigners who have lived in China for a certain period of time can also represent Chinese teams in international competitions. Therefore, there are always many "foreign faces" among the "Chinese team" that appeared in high-level world events in the early days. After graduating from university, Liu Wei went to Shanghai and joined the strongest Frisbee club in China at that time, but whenever he went abroad to compete, there were not many Chinese people in the team. "I feel very awkward, why should they represent China?" So, a Frisbee team composed of all Chinese players was born in 2014. "I want to prove that the Chinese are not bad at all."
"first show" failed to win medals without any confidence
In the history of China's Frisbee development, 2019 is an important year. That year, the unknown Frisbee had its first official national team.
In July 2019, the international Class A event hosted by WFDF, the quadrennial Asian Oceania Frisbee Championship (hereinafter referred to as the Asian Championship) was held in Shanghai, and teams from 11 countries and regions participated in the competition. This is the first time that the Frisbee international event has been launched in China. In order to prepare for the competition, the Management of the Social Sports Guidance Center of the General Administration of Sports of China took the lead in forming three "national" teams, including men's, women's and mixed groups.
That year, Liang Zhuang, as the only local coach in the coaching team, organized and participated in the selection of national players throughout the process.The selection started in December 2018 and was conducted in batches in three cities in China, and was open to overseas students through recommendations, video registration and other methods. After more than five months of selection, 60 plate friends stood out from more than 200 applicants and held training in Hangzhou.
In Liu Wei's Frisbee career, that competition was one of the most exciting moments. "At the opening ceremony, I watched the five-star red flag enter the court, and I was proud and nervous, afraid that I would not play well and embarrass the host, so I stood on the court and shivered." In that Asian Championships, Liu Wei, as the captain of the mixed group, led the team to the semi-finals and lost to the Japanese team and lost to the Indian team with one point in the bronze medal match. Asia is fourth, the best result of China Frisbee in the world competition so far.
Liang Zhuang led the team to participate in the 2019 Asian Championships as the head coach
"In fact, it was only two or three points lost to the Japanese team. The whole game was very tight and he was still ahead in the first half." Looking back on that historic "first show", Liang Zhuang said. At that time, Chinese players had academic or jobs, lacked systematic training on weekdays, and their physical fitness, willpower and concentration were difficult to compare with professional players. High-intensity competitions will consume more physical energy, and the strength of the opponent will also affect everyone's thoughts. "But everyone tried their best." Although
left regrets, the regret of defeat also sowed the seeds of hope in the hearts of both of them. According to Liang Zhuang, as an Asian powerhouse, the Japanese team is also tenable in the world, and its success is worth learning from. "Asians' figure, absolute speed and bounce ability are not as good as those of European and American players, but smallness, flexibility and rhythm changes are our advantages. As long as we study tactics thoroughly, do the details well, and reduce mistakes, China can also become a strong team."
The popularity of the people is high, the "top of the pyramid"
confidence is not said. Now, Liang Zhuang and Liu Wei have devoted more energy to being coaches and training, and are determined to cultivate more excellent coaches and reserve talents for Chinese Frisbee. This year, Frisbee's "popularity" among the people has inspired them even more. "Now, there are more than 1 million people playing Frisbee in the country. If you choose another national team," Liang Zhuang patted his chest excitedly, "In the words of Li Yunlong in "Bright Sword" - he has never fought such a wealthy battle."
It is understood that China will also form the U20 and U24 Frisbee national training teams this year, and the selection plan will be carried out in multiple cities, and the best is selected. "Now we have this condition. There are more people playing and more sponsors, and the level will definitely be higher than before." Although Frisbee still appears in fitness events and fashion sports, Liang Zhuang said that the mass base is becoming increasingly strong and will definitely form a positive promotion for the development of competition. "This is true for any project. If the tower foundation is expanded, the top of the tower can be higher. The competitive performance has improved, and in turn, it will guide and promote the masses, especially young people, and expand social awareness."
Liu Wei said bluntly that Chinese Frisbee needs to receive more support. At the closing ceremony of the first China Frisbee League Xi'an Station in August, she couldn't help but burst into tears when she looked at the name of the event on the LED screen. "After walking for more than ten years, I can finally let my parents see that this matter is meaningful." She laughed and said that she became the "No. 1 sister" just because she persisted for a longer time. "Many people were better than me and had better abilities than me, but after graduation, they had to make a living, so they put down Frisbee. Now that there are more people participating, they can naturally find good seeds. If Frisbee can be recognized like football and basketball, get a better soil, and allow those who love this sport to devote themselves to it, Chinese Frisbee can definitely become a world-class team. Now the first step has been taken, and the future will definitely be better."
In Liang Zhuang's view, many young players in China are currently outstanding in physical fitness, even better than themselves. "What is needed now is systematization, such as coach training, selection and recommendation of national players, youth training system and the establishment of youth and college students' competitions, etc., there is still a long way to go." He looks forward to the Frisbee being able to "fly" into the 2032 Olympics, and then get more recognition and support in China. "Now many projects are transforming towards marketization, and China's sports are becoming more and more open, inclusive and diversified.We have caught up with this era and believe that both Chinese sports and Chinese Frisbee will become stronger and stronger. ”
The picture in this article is provided by the interviewee
