Beijing s "Single Rose" National Games Arena blooms again

Reporter Zhao Xiaosong

Liu Ailing, Wen Lirong, Liu Ying, Jin Yan, Li Ying, Cao Yue, Li Jie, Man Yanling, Ren Liping, Wang Liping... After leaving the arena, 20 years after this group of Beijing women's football celebrities reassembled and formed a team to participate in the football competition of the seven-a-side and five-a-side women's veterans in the 15th Games mass competition recently held, and won a silver medal. In addition to the results, the gathering of the "Old Women's Football Team" is a story about feelings, hard work and glory.

The reunion of the city's movement sets the National Games' agreement

"The idea of ​​playing for the National Games can be traced back to 2022." Cao Yue, the head coach of the Beijing Sevens-Article team and once guarded the goal for the Beijing Women's Football Team, introduced that the Beijing Municipal Games set up a mass women's football match that year. She and this group of "old sisters" who once fought side by side compete on the field.

Cao Yue remembered that everyone was very happy that time, and after the game, he had a dinner with meritorious coaches from Beijing Women's Football Team such as Ma Yuan' and Shang Ruihua. "At that time, someone mentioned, 'There are also mass competitions in the National Games,' and we decided to participate." Afterwards, Cao Yue and others not only formed a 60-person Beijing Women's Football Team Group, but also specifically instructed Jin Yan, who worked at the Nongtan Sports School, to pay attention to the National Games registration news at any time.

Talking about the original intention of team-building, Cao Yue bluntly said that it was driven by sentiment. "After the founding of the team in the 1980s, our Beijing Women's Football Team won six consecutive national championships. As long as we participate in the competition, we are at least the top three, and we also train generations of national players for the national team. We, the group of people who have experienced that year, really hope to play the National Games for Beijing again!"

The registration scope for the veteran group competition of the 15th National Football Team is 36 to 60 years old. "We are mainly born in the 1960s and 1970s. Everyone will be happy to participate directly, but they also have to consider the honor of our Beijing." In the end, the veterans chose to partner with some of the "post-80s" players in Beijing, forming two teams, seven-a-side and five-a-side teams.

Three generations of celebrities joined forces to achieve two excellent results

After the start of the game, the Beijing team, which has many old internationals, became a favorite to win the championship, but Cao Yue remained awake: "The age is there! Our eldest sister Wen (Wen Lirong) was in 1969, and she is 20 years younger than her!" The humid weather and close schedule in Zhuhai are held in the game, which also makes players feel difficult. In a video posted by Cao Yue on his personal social media, each player had ice bags tied around his legs after the game, and many people even "hooked the lottery" in the fierce battle. Cao Yue said that the team’s ability to play triumphant songs mainly depends on the outstanding performance of the “post-80s” such as Wang Dandan, Gao Ying, and Zheng Wei.

Before the seven-a-side semi-finals with the host Guangdong team, 56-year-old Wen Lirong broke her rib. At the pre-match preparation meeting, someone said, "Sister Wen, we are very relieved to stand behind you." Wen Lirong heard that she decided to play with injuries. She turned into a defense star to help the team drag the game into a penalty shootout and finally won.

The spiritual inspiration of the "post-60s" and the "post-70s" and the full struggle of the "post-80s" made the Beijing team finally won the runner-up of the seven-a-side system and entered the top 8 of the five-a-side system.

The years have not changed their original intentions and continue to write the spirit of the women's football team. During the game, from staff to opponents, there are always people chasing Liu Ailing, Wen Lirong, Liu Ying and others taking photos. The older generation of "Sonk Rose" also set an example with practical actions. They always gather on time and dress in a uniform manner to go to the restaurant for dinner. Cao Yue and Liu Ailing, who serve as coaches, not only analyze the competition and study the opponents every night, but also actively help the team members with physical therapy and transport supplies with the team staff. "We are a group, we all help each other and show the image of the Beijing Women's Football Team together," said Cao Yue.

After leaving the professional arena, the "Old Women's Football Team" players entered all walks of life. Many people took annual leave for the National Games. Cao Yue revealed that Jin Yan's son made the college entrance examination, but he particularly supported his mother in the competition; Beijing U18 women's football coach Li Jie missed the group stage due to the task of leading the team, and took a taxi from Zhaoqing, Guangdong to Zhuhai in the knockout stage; Ma Jiale, who served as the head coach of the Beijing women's football team, frequently traveled at airports and high-speed rail stations to take into account the participation tasks of the football team and this competition; Xu Yanfen, Gao Ying and Wang Guangkuo, three "post-80s" who were seriously injured; old teammates who did not come to the stadium also pay attention to the progress of the game in the group every day...

"No one feels hard. Being able to relive the feeling of the athlete's era in his 40s and 50s, and once again fight for Beijing, is particularly happy, and can remember his life." Cao Yue said emotionally that the years made them who were galloping on the stadium back then, but their love for football has never changed. This National Games once again ignited their passion. Everyone is eager to continue writing the spirit of unity, hard work and never giving up with their actions.

When asked if you want to fight with your sisters again four years later, Cao Yue smiled and said, "It was more important to rely on 'young people' at that time, but as long as we need it, our veterans will definitely come!"