China's Hu Zhijun (middle) vies for a header in the men's football final against Uzbekistan at the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan, Oct. 18, 1994. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaoying)
With highs and lows at the Asian Games, China's men's and women's football teams look to bounce back from their own recent lows in Hangzhou.
HANGZHOU, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Following a series of lackluster performances, China's football sees a prime opportunity at the Hangzhou Asian Games to start anew.
The football competition begins on Tuesday, four days before the opening ceremony.
China's men's football team has struggled at the Asian Games. Their pinnacle was in 1994, finishing as runners-up. Since then, they've exited in the Round of 16 in the last three consecutive editions.
According to the rules, men's teams at the Hangzhou Asian Games can include players born on or after January 1, 1999, with three over-age players allowed. For women's teams, there's no age limit.
Zhu Chenjie (L) of China competes during a Group B match against Oman at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 11, 2021. (Xinhua)
Twenty-two men's teams are divided into six groups. The top two from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, will move to the elimination phase.
Under head coach Dejan Djurdjevic, many on the 22-man roster have significant Chinese Super League experience. Players like Zhu Chenjie and Dai Weijun are national senior team regulars.
Since Djurdjevic's appointment in February, he's held three training camps. The high expectations from home fans have undoubtedly placed pressure on the Serbian coach.
"We have prepared for the Hangzhou Asian Games for six months and are looking forward to this campaign. We are ready to play seven games and let the 22 players develop chemistry on the pitch," Djurdjevic noted.
"As a veteran, I hope that my experience will help, and push the young players to go further," said Tan Long, one of the over-age players.
Sunil Chhetri (top R) of India goes for a header during the second round Group E football match against Bangladesh at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification in Doha, Qatar, on June 7, 2021. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)
Djurdjevic's team will face India on Tuesday in their Group A opener. This will be followed by matches against Myanmar and Bangladesh. Given the last two teams' perceived lesser threat, the opening game against India, led by their 39-year-old captain Sunil Chhetri, is essentially a contest for the top group spot.
If China tops the group, they'll likely advance to the quarterfinals. However, they could face a formidable opponent in Group E's winner, likely South Korea.
South Korea, gold medalists in the last two Asian Games, is aiming for a third title, especially since an Asian Games win can offer military service exemptions. Their roster includes notable players like PSG's Lee Kang-in and Stuttgart's Jeong Woo-yeong.
Japan, another contender, fielded a team mainly consisting of university players and youth academy talents, but Japan's depth has given head coach Go Oiwa confidence in securing their first Asian Games title since 2010.
Similarly, Japan's women's football team features fresh faces, with only Remina Chiba having played the 2023 Women's World Cup as a substitute with a three-minute cameo appearance.
In contrast, China's women's team, narrowly defeated by Japan in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games final, boasts a formidable lineup. Head coach Shui Qingxia has largely retained the roster from this year's World Cup, reflecting their determination to reclaim their esteemed status.
China's women's team has experienced highs and lows post-Jakarta. After a Round of 16 exit in the 2019 World Cup and a disappointing Tokyo Olympics, they clinched the Asian Cup in 2022. However, a recent World Cup group phase exit was a historic low.
"Maybe we will never talk about the World Cup again even if we have not got rid of it completely, because we have no time to regret and there is an arduous assignment ahead of us, with so many fans supporting us, we have to put up a good show," said midfielder Yang Li'na.
Yang Lina (R) of China vies for the ball during the group D match against Denmark at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Perth, Australia, July 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Chen)
Shui echoed Yang's sentiments, emphasizing the need for communication to understand players' mental and physical states and to prepare for the upcoming matches.
"We should figure out how to overcome the predicament when we are confronted with difficulties, more importantly, we should put more effort in training and playing, returning the favor to our fans," Shui said. ■
