Sports / China
Writer offers a lecture to athletes
By Jeff Pan (Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-03-15 15:42
Writer Wang Meng challenged world 110-meter hurdles record holder Liu
Xiang -- not on the tracks, but in a much more implicit way behind the
podium of the ongoing CPPCC, Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference.
"'One athlete' said Asians could also run fast after he won a
track-and-field gold medal," said Wang, a member of CPPCC, "this claim is
bound to face lawsuit should it have happened in Europe."
Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, overwhelmed with the excitement after he won
the first place in men's 110-meter hurdles in 2004 Athens Olympic Games,
said "it's incredible I have crossed the hurdle of 13 seconds, as a
Chinese and an Asian. But I do believe there are more miracles to be made
in the future of my career. I want people to change the stereotype that
Asians cannot excel in sprinting. I have demonstrated to the whole world
with my action: Asia has me. China has me."
It does not take a rocket scientist to conclude that Wang's criticism is
directed to Liu, considering China has won very scarce gold medals in
track and field in world games.
Wang also concluded Liu's after-game address, laded with passions and
emotions, "is not decent and a reflection of lack of confidence. We can't
always talk in a bitter manner like that of a bullied concubine."
Liu is not the only one Wang opened fire to. Wang noted it is normal and
touching for athletes to shed tears of excitement after they make some
outstanding achievements, but they have to contain themselves and keep
good manners.
"However, there was a male athlete, who has come to the proper age and
assumes some sort of a leader position in some organizations, cried after
he won the game. Tears also devoured him when he was awarded the prize.
He could hardly hold himself, and that influences the image of our
athletes," said Wang, "I maintain we can shed some tears, but have to
refrain ourselves, and outline our spiritual outlook of being optimistic,
healthy, and open."
Writer Wang Meng challenged world 110-meter hurdles record holder Liu
Xiang -- not on the tracks, but in a much more implicit way behind the
podium of the ongoing CPPCC, Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference. [Sohu]
Wang offered another example of improper response during the Athens
Olympics. A Chinese player snatched the golden medal largely because of
the misplay of another athlete from a different country. When the player
was asked whether his success holds some random factors, He answered "no,
I deserve the gold medal."
Wang thought his answer was too unrefined and direct, and also offered
his version for obtaining the golden medal, "Yes, he (the other player)
got the skills to win the golden medal. I feel sorry for his misplay. I
hope we have more chances to learn from each other in the future. For the
gold medal, I don't think anyone can win it because of mere luck and
other people's misplays."
"Wouldn't that be better?" Wang asked his fellow CPPCC members.
Han Han, a post-1980 writer does not think Wang's reply is better. "That
is too ridiculous. In the top games on the global level, the athletes are
basically on the same level. A lot of champions win their gold medals
because of their performance, luck, and turnovers of competitors. It's a
great thing that your opponents misplay, because I am chasing right after
you, posing a lot of pressure, and waiting for you to misplay," said Han
on his blog entry about Wang's suggestions to the athletes, "It's weird
for a famous writer to teach the world champions how to be hypocritical
and distort their true thoughts."
A heated debate on Sohu.com shows that a number of netizens also back up
Wang's opinion. "Some athletes did say things that are not appropriate,
and they are just narrow-minded. The underbred claims are definitely not
a good way to express your personality," said a netizen on Sohu.com.
However, more people have voted against Wang, "Sports are about passions
and emotions. Wang is just trying to castrate the individuality of
Chinese athletes," said another netizen from Sohu.com.
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