INCHEON, Oct 8 (AFP): China, Asia's sporting superpower, are agonising over their failure to triumph in football, basketball or volleyball-what they call the "three big ball sports"-at the Asian Games.
China won 151 gold medals at the two-week Games in South Korea, but no titles in football and basketball, the world's most popular sports.
China's women lost the volleyball final for the first time since 1998 when they were beaten by South Korea. Their men failed to get a medal for the second straight games.
The defeats hurt and answers have been demanded. China's delegation chief in Incheon Liu Peng said before the Games started that "it's an uphill battle for our three 'big ball' teams", which he acknowledged carry "special significance."
Football is the most important sport in China, even though they have only once qualified for the World Cup and have in recent years been hit by match-fixing scandals involving players, referees and officials.
China's Football Association president Cai Zhenhua said his country's football had hit rock bottom after the national under-23 side lost 2-0 to Thailand in the Asian Games quarter finals. They also lost to Vietnam in the group stage.
"Chinese football has hit a new low," he told state media. "But we must not feel numb. We must make reforms and try to find the right way to develop Chinese football.
"I am not blaming our coaches. But the level of the coaching staff of the men's team is lagging far behind the world class," he added.
"They do not compare with Chinese coaches in other sports," said Cai. "In 10 years time, I hope we can see our efforts bear some fruit."
China\\\'s pain over \\\'3 big ball sports\\\'
FE Team | Published: October 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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