Every athlete's heart is shining with an Olympic ideal. Every water polo player's heart, are condensed with a lush water polo sentiment. In the reporter's impression, Guangxi water polo veteran Liao Yiping is undoubtedly such a person.
Liao Yiping, the current Guangxi sports school water polo coach, in its 30 years of sports career, in 1975, 1979 and 1983 on behalf of Guangxi has participated in the third, fourth and fifth National Games, have won the first place, the realization of Guangxi sports water polo history "three consecutive championships", and in 1978 on behalf of China to participate in the Eighth National Games, and in 1978 on behalf of China to participate in the Eighth National Games, and in 1978 on behalf of China to participate in the Eighth National Games. In 1978, on behalf of China participated in the eighth Asian Games, won the Asian water polo championship.
The first acquaintance of Liao Yiping, was introduced by the comrades of the Executive Committee of the Eleventh Guangxi Games, Liao Yiping home in Nanning. Liao Yiping stout, robust, a rare good body, giving a person a kind of tall and powerful, imposing feeling. Although it is the first contact, but the reporter from his words or found that Liao Yiping as a galloping field of water polo veterans, his blood will always boil a never degraded water polo feelings. As long as the talk of water polo, usually reticent he will become full of talk, radiant ......
"As long as you pay attention to observe, you will find that, whether in the Athens Olympics, or the Sydney Olympics, water polo matches are full, hard to find a ticket. The atmosphere of the scene, it is so hot that even the referee's whistle is nearly drowned out." The first time we met with Liao Yiping, he said to the reporter this words words, still let the reporter still fresh in his mind. "In some coastal cities in the south of China, water polo is equally popular. I remember one autumn, at a water polo match held in Guangxi, in order to cheer for their favorite team, the audience even carried 11 big drums into the swimming pool which could only accommodate more than 2,000 people. Along with every wonderful goal and fierce scramble of the athletes on both sides, a burst of noisy gongs and drums and shouts would ring out on the spot. In this warm atmosphere of the field of infection, the two sides of the athletes than also extraordinarily energetic, the game is very exciting to see Oh!
*** Years of unforgettable
Although, time has passed nearly 30 years, but the eighth Asian Games on the Chinese and Japanese water polo team to win the championship, the intense, intense scene in front of Liao Yiping is still vivid, unforgettable.
In December 1978, the 8th Asian Games was held in Bangkok, Thailand. This session of the Asian Games than the previous session of the participating athletes increased by more than 600 people, reaching 2879 people, including 557 female athletes, who participated in 19 kinds of sports 199 individual competitions, a record of the Asian Games to participate in the delegation and the number of new records. Competition categories include athletics, swimming (including diving and water polo), shooting, boxing, gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, bowling, fencing, table tennis, badminton, tennis, free riding, sailing, archery, basketball, volleyball, soccer and field hockey, etc., of which bowling, sailing and archery are three new additions in this session. China sent a large delegation to participate in 14 sports including athletics, swimming (including diving and water polo), gymnastics, weightlifting, basketball, volleyball, soccer, table tennis, badminton, tennis, cycling, shooting, fencing and wrestling. This is the second time that the country has sent a delegation to compete in the Asian Games after the 7th Tehran Asian Games.
The water polo competition of the 8th Asian Games was held on December 19 at the International Swimming Competition Center in Bangkok. Participating in the competition were China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and other countries and regions. From the level of this competition, China and Japan were at a higher level and very close to each other, Singapore and Malaysia were at a slightly lower level, and Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Bangladesh were at a lower level. Since the Seventh Asian Games in 1974, China and Japan have met several times, and both sides are evenly matched. Both sides are well prepared for this tournament, a vicious battle is inevitable. Therefore, the Chinese and Japanese water polo team to win the battle is particularly compelling.
9:30 am that day, Bangkok International Swimming Competition Center spectator stage is full, packed with nearly 10,000 spectators. Everyone watched the Asian Games water polo title fight with great interest.
Soon after the game, the Chinese team with tacit understanding of the cooperation, strong offense, courageous style, scoring. But no one expected, the referee did not know for what intention, obviously biased in favor of the Japanese team, they are on the Chinese players of the unreasonable penalty, simply to the point of no return, so that the Chinese team personally learned the "blowing the whistle" of the taste. Because of this, when the battle is almost over, some members of the Chinese team can not stand it, and the Japanese team had some disputes, resulting in the morning game scores do not count, the afternoon replay, and change the referee.
3:30 p.m., the Chinese and Japanese water polo team to win the battle restarted. For the fairness and impartiality of the game, the International Tourism Federation sent two international A-level water polo referees to serve as referees for this game. At that time, Princess Sirindhorn, the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, came to the Bangkok International Swimming Competition Center, and watched the Asian Games water polo championship battle with great interest.
When the referee's whistle blew, the calm water suddenly rippled. The first section just started 6 points, 1-78 meters tall Cai Tianxiong, fast cut, powerful shot, the Chinese team to 1-0 lead. At this point, the Chinese cheerleaders in the stands shouted, deafening. The Chinese water polo players were greatly encouraged and continued to attack fiercely. At the end of the 1st period, it was 2-0, with China leading.
In the 2nd period, the Chinese team frequently attacked and scored, first Wang Xiaotian scored in the door fight, and then Liao Yiping counterattacked successfully, adding to the icing on the cake. At this time, the swimming pool splash, sound waves, both sides of the cheerleaders shouted non-stop, Chinese and Japanese national flags in the stands kept flying, the scene exciting. This section of the Chinese team netted three points, the Japanese team did not have a point, 5-0, China continues to lead.
At the beginning of the third quarter, the Japanese team used man-to-man tactics to expand the defense area, pressing the Chinese team members, but the Chinese team was not panicked, calmly responded to the battle, or long-distance shooting, or strong attack. Zhai defends in the break successful, fast with the ball forward, single shot shot success, then Cai Sheng six jumped up to catch the ball, strong shot scored, making the whole swimming pool boiled up, warm applause, the Chinese team's morale is greatly boosted.
The critical 4th quarter began. This is the time to fight for will and strength. The Chinese team in the score is far ahead of the situation, not the enemy thought, pride and arrogance, but unity, mutual encouragement, firm confidence, according to the intention of the preparatory meeting to carry out, steady and steady, control the rhythm of the attack, deal with each ball, the game is carried out to the degree of white-hot. Cai Tianxiong intercepted the ball near the center of the field, saw the Japanese goalkeeper out of the attack did not return, seize the opportunity to immediately come to a far hanging shot, the ball straight into the door scored, the Chinese team has scored 11 points. At this time, less than 2 minutes from the end of the game, the Japanese team tried their best to catch up, trying to save the situation, but there is no way back. In the midst of a fierce battle between the two teams, the Japanese team committed an offensive foul, and with only 17 seconds to go, China took control of the ball into the end zone. A whistle blew and China beat Japan 11-1, ending the championship match. The Chinese team won the championship for the first time in the Asian Games, the victory cheers resounded over the swimming pool for a long time.
The prize-giving ceremony began. In the majestic Chinese people's **** and the national anthem, Liao Yiping and other Chinese water polo athletes stood on the podium, looking at the rising five-star red flag, extraordinarily excited. And the field of Chinese compatriots, along with the rhythm of the strong melody, can not help but sing a strong national anthem, and water polo players to share the joy of victory.
A string of footprints to record the growth
Liao Yiping can stand on the podium of the Asian Games champion, and not
because of good luck, but with his childhood love of sports has an inextricable link.
In June 1955, Liao Yiping was born into a family of cadres, and was the fourth of his siblings, with an older brother, two older sisters, and a younger sister.
At the end of 1959, he came to Yulin with his parents, and attended preschool at the former regional kindergarten, and then elementary school at Dongcheng Elementary School in the city of Yulin.
At that time, Liao Yiping was very active, lively and mischievous, and was very fond of sports since he was a child. Whenever he had time, he either played table tennis or basketball with his children. Especially when he was playing, he used his left hand, which made him more famous among his peers because he could not defend himself. When he was in the 5th grade of elementary school, he was
also drawn to the county team for a period of intensive training, thus greatly improving his basketball level.
In addition to enjoying table tennis and basketball, Liao Yiping is also particularly fond of swimming. Yulin is located in the southeast of Gui, although there is no big river, big river, but there are still two rivers around the city, one is the Nanliu River, one is the Qingwan River. In his spare time, Liao Yiping's father, Liao Yingdong, often took his siblings to the riverside to pick shells and catch small fish, and in the heat of the summer, he would also take them swimming in the river. Later, Liao Yingdong realized that Liao Yiping was quite talented in swimming, so he focused on cultivating him. Liao Yingdong's training method is very peculiar, he often took Liao Yiping to the edge of the field or by the river ditch to carefully observe the frog's swimming posture. Once, Liao Yingdong gently poked a frog floating on the surface of the water with his finger, the frog then clamped its legs and scurried out like an arrow, Liao Yingdong inspired Liao Yiping: "See clearly? Those two legs are so strong, frogs rely mainly on their legs to swim." Under Liao Yingdong's patient cultivation, Liao Yiping's swimming level has also risen sharply, just like his basketball game.
In early 1971, Liao Yiping was in the second grade of junior high school. One day, the autonomous region sports team water polo player Li Jinkun came to Yulin to select athletes, Dongcheng elementary school physical education teacher Liang Anqi to him highly recommended Liao Yiping. In February of that year, Liao Yiping was selected to the autonomous region's sports team with good overall quality, and was assigned to the water polo team to receive formal and strict systematic training.
Mention of water polo this sport, until today, in our country there are still most people will put it into the "cold" project ranks. Indeed, water polo in our country to carry out the sport is not popular, in some high-level water polo matches in the country, the audience is often very few. Therefore, at the beginning, Liao Yiping water polo is also a "fog". With the water polo team to receive training in the days of increase, he has a further understanding of water polo.
Water polo, also known as "water soccer", is a ball game in the water, the degree of its exciting and intense soccer matches on the green field, and swimming, diving and synchronized swimming with the World Swimming Championships are listed as the four major projects. The game is played between two teams on a dedicated water court. Each team has seven players on the field, respectively, as a striker, defender and goalkeeper, and six substitutes. One team wears blue caps, one team wears white caps, and both goalies wear red caps. Athletes should have good swimming skills and techniques of water polo such as starting, jumping, passing and catching, treading water for support, shooting, etc. Athletes are also required to have good physical fitness and will quality. Each game is divided into 4 sections, each section lasts 8 minutes, with a 2-minute break between sections, and a 5-minute break and exchange of fields after the two sections. The game is scored by shooting the ball into the opponent's goal, and the one who scores more points wins. During the game, no player except the goalkeeper may touch the ball with both hands or press it into the water. When an attacking player has the ball in his hands, the defending player may press the ball into the water in order to grab it. If the ball carrier releases the ball and the defending team continues to press the ball, it is considered a foul. Fouls in water polo are divided into general fouls and serious fouls. For general fouls, the opposing team will take an indirect free kick at the place of the foul, while for serious fouls, the player will be sentenced to leave the field for 20 seconds or the opposing team will take a 5-meter direct free kick. A brutal action may result in disqualification from the match and an additional penalty of a 5-meter direct free kick. Water polo originated in England in the middle of the 19th century, and was initially called "water soccer", and was officially named "water polo" in 1877. By the end of the 19th century, it was introduced to the United States and continental European countries, and in 1900 it was listed as an Olympic sport. In the Olympic Games, water polo is not only a very high attendance rate of the event, in Europe and the United States and other countries is highly sought after, especially in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, water polo is even called "the first sport".
At that time, with Liao Yiping together to the autonomous region of the sports team to receive water polo training, there are three other athletes Liang Xinmin, He Binglin, Chen Hong, their age than Liao Yiping 2 to 3 years old, responsible for the training of their coaches is the Yeh Hongrong, the training site is in the southwest of Wuming County, a natural spring pool Lingshui. Spirit of the peculiarities of the water has two points: one is always clear in all seasons, clear to see the bottom, fish scurrying shrimp swim, all in sight, regardless of the time of the day flood or drought, it is still not overflowing not dried up, not muddy not turbid. Second, regardless of spring, summer, fall and winter, its water temperature is maintained at 22 degrees Celsius. C or so, is a natural swimming pool, hot summer jump into the water, the heat suddenly disappears; winter in the water to soak, warm all over the body. So, all year round here swimming people are endless, so the National Sports Commission swimming team also take this place as a training base.
During the training period in Lingshui, Coach Ye Hongrong strictly in accordance with the "three from a large" training principles, that is, from the difficult, from the strict, from the actual combat and large exercise, Liao Yiping and others to carry out technical attack training, in order to improve their physical fitness and durability and so on. Technically, the practical strengthening of passing and receiving, confrontation weight treading water, dribbling, 8-meter shot and so on. In terms of tactics, they changed the dull playing style of the strikers and learned the world's advanced swimming passing, crossing, fast breakthrough and other techniques and tactics. They practiced in winter and summer, sending off one holiday after another in the swimming pool and ushering in one dawn after another in the playground.
It did not take long for Liao Yiping to stand out with his receptive, adaptable, solid swimming skills and ability to play left and right, not only liked by the coaches, but also traveled around to participate in various tournaments.
In July 1971, the National Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Training Competition was held in Wuhan, Hubei Province. After a few months of rigorous training Liao Yiping and others, on behalf of Guangxi to participate in the competition, although not competing for the top three, but still achieved the fourth place.
The initial success greatly boosted the morale of Liao Yiping and others, and in August 1972, the national tournament was held in Changsha, Hunan Province, where Liao Yiping and others represented Guangxi to participate in the tournament, and also achieved the 4th place.
In August 1973, the National Championship was held in Wuhan, Hubei, Liao Yiping and other people on behalf of Guangxi to participate in the game, after everyone's hard work, finally among the top 3, won the third place.
Being able to rank among the top 3, more like to Liao Yiping people injected a stimulant, motivating them to higher, farther, stronger goal forward. 1974 October, the national tournament was held in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, Liao Yiping people to participate in the competition on behalf of Guangxi, and after a fierce battle, finally won the second place, and from the championship has been closer and closer.
Three championship fame
After the above four battles, Liao Yiping has been a reputation, and soon "usurped power" into the main lineup, so that people are impressed, and laid the foundation for his future career in water polo.
By 1974, the seventh Asian Games will be held from September 1 to September 16 in Tehran, Iran. At that time, there will be 25 countries more than 3,000 participants, which is the Asian Games since the organization of the largest number of participating countries also the largest number of players. It is particularly worth pointing out that in this session of the Asian Games,
Chinese Taipei (Republic of China) will be excluded from the membership of the Chinese People's Republic of China **** and the country to take its place. It is also due to the fact that it is the first time that China is participating in the Asian Games, and China is giving high priority to all aspects of the game.
In order to do a good job in preparation for the seventh Asian Games, the National Sports Commission in April 1974 in Guangxi Wuming water polo training base special training of the country's four strong team, and formed the national team. During the training period, the national team and the Guangdong team, Guangxi team, Shanghai team and other rounds of matches, each other, for a period of two months, the technology have made great progress. Taking this opportunity, Liao Yiping is learning from others, so that their water polo level "higher level". Liao Yiping and the Chinese water polo teammates are holding their breath, all want to be the first time in the Asian Games for the motherland to win the honor of the Chinese. At that time, just 20-year-old Liao Yiping heart only the Asian Games, in a training unfortunately broken toes, he gritted his teeth, his toes will be equalized, clamped on two pieces of small board, wrapped in bandages, and jumped into the pool to continue to practice. Subsequently, Liao Yiping and Li Jinkun was also drawn to the Chinese water polo team, Changsha, Hunan Province, for more rigorous training, he and Li Jinkun level has been further improved, gradually formed a fast, flexible and versatile, covert technical style. In August of the same year, the Chinese water polo team organized teams to participate in the Seventh Asian Games held in Iran, Guangxi team has Li Jinkun with the national team to participate in the competition, won the second place.
September 1975, the third National Games water polo tournament held in Beijing, Liao Yiping and others on behalf of Guangxi to participate in the competition. After everyone's *** with efforts, in the battle for the title, Guangxi water polo team finally defeated the Guangdong team, won the championship for the first time in the National Games. The news came, the people of eight Gui rejoiced and were excited.
Subsequently, in order to prepare for the Eighth Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand in December 1978, the National Sports Commission immediately organized the national team, and designated Pan Guoqiang of Guangdong as the leader, Hou De as coach, Guangxi athletes have Liao Yiping and Li Jianming, Zhang Guanghua, Peng Bailing 4 people selected, Guangdong athletes Lu Zhouqian, Cai Tianxiong, Wang Jianguang, Cai Shengliu 4 selected, Shanghai athletes have Li Lisan, Zhai GuanDong 2 people selected, Fujian athletes have Wang Xiaotian 1 person selected, they will represent China to participate in the 8th Asian Games. During the Asian Games, the Chinese water polo team won the Asian Games championship for the first time with its speed, passing accuracy, mid-backfield breakthroughs, active swimming and other flexible and versatile tactics.
Soon after the end of the eighth Asian Games, that is, in May 1979, the fourth National Games water polo tournament in Guangdong Xinhui, Jiangmen, Liao Yiping and others on behalf of Guangxi to participate in the competition. Guangxi water polo team calmly and steadily, in the battle for the title, Guangxi water polo team once again defeated the Guangdong team, successfully defending the title. In the same year, Liao Yiping was honored with the title of "National Sportsman".
Four years later, in September 1983, the Fifth National Games water polo tournament held in Shanghai, Liao Yiping and others on behalf of Guangxi to participate in the game. In the game, Guangxi water polo team all the way through the thorns and thistles, the third victory over the Guangdong team, the first, realized the Guangxi sports water polo history "three consecutive championships", Guangxi won the supreme glory. Even now, as long as the mention of Guangxi water polo team, some older people will give a thumbs up, talking about the glory of the year.
It is also because Liao Yiping and others have created countless Guangxi people proud of the "three consecutive championships", the achievement of a "Guangxi water polo" era that is difficult for others to reach, coupled with Liao Yiping on behalf of China's water polo team to the Eighth Asian Games, and for the first time in China's water polo to win a championship, and the Chinese water polo team to win a championship.
Love water polo hope reform
When half a lifetime as a water polo player, retired Liao Yiping is always concerned about the development of water polo in China.
China's water polo team in more than 10 years ago or Asia's largest, the last few years with the extreme shrinkage of the local team, China's water polo is a downward trend. At the Athens Olympics, the Chinese team did not even get a ticket.
Liao Yiping in the sigh of relief, to the reporter analyzed the existence of two major difficulties in China's water polo. First, the professional team is too few, there are only four teams in Shanghai, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan; the second is the mass base is too poor, due to the lack of venues and other reasons for the limitations of the current water polo in the country is far from being carried out.
Liao Yiping told reporters, Guangxi water polo team has been in the doldrums for a long time, especially relative to the previous "three consecutive championships", the results have been far down; from the national point of view, Guangxi water polo team has always been ranked in the back of the team in Shanghai, Guangdong and Hunan.
Nevertheless, in 2005, the Tenth National Games water polo preliminaries, Guangxi water polo team still achieved good results, with four wins and two losses ranked third.
For the current Guangxi team, Liao Yiping on the one hand is full of confidence, he said: "From the preliminaries of the performance of the Guangxi water polo team is still the top three level, it should be good." However, on the other hand, Liao Yiping is worried: "Before, a mention of the Guangxi team, the province's opponents are afraid. When won the 'three consecutive championships', small, fast, spirit and the door 3: 3, 2: 2 is the characteristics of the Guangxi team, athletes with excellent personal skills, each can be left and right bow, a large number of outstanding athletes to become the mainstay of the national water polo team. But now, Guangxi team only goalkeeper Ma Jianjun is a member of the national team, while the Shanghai team has 6 to 7 people selected for the national team, Guangxi team has no advantage to speak of."
Why is the advantage gone? The reporter threw the question to Liao Yiping. He said: "The former Li Jinkun, Li Jianming, Deng Jun, Zhang Guanghua, Huang Long, Lin Jun, Peng Bai Ling, these veterans so powerful, because they have long been engaged in this project, their foundation is good, solid fundamentals, and faster comprehension of water polo. What's more, they all stood out from the crowd, and their talent was also good. However, the selection of water polo players is too narrow, and many of our players have retired from other programs. For example, a lot of people used to practice swimming, practicing and practicing, the performance can not be raised, and then transferred to play water polo. Although these projects are related to water, but these players water polo basic skills are not, coordination, confrontation are very poor."
According to Liao Yiping introduction, now Guangxi team is the most lack of center, and center both in basketball, or water polo games play a vital role. As the saying goes, "The one who gets the center has got half the world." Now the lack of center, is because there is no good seedling "trouble".
"In fact, Guangxi water polo is the problem of Chinese water polo **** the same flaws." Liao Yiping hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that "Ten Games water polo preliminaries, the national total **** only seven provinces to send a team to participate in, you can imagine the popularity of water polo in China is how low."
But in the birthplace of water polo - the United Kingdom, the whole country up and down the water polo is very interested in, a typical example is Britain's Prince Harry, he grew up very much like playing water polo. Influenced by the United Kingdom, the whole of Europe's water polo sport is also in full swing, like Croatia, Hungary have their own professional league. Liao Yiping very envious, said: "Europe is now the development of water polo has been very systematic, their mass base is very good, we all love to see." Compared with them, China is dwarfed. Guangxi, for example, before the region has more than 9 places, cities with water polo program, now only 3 poor; and Guangxi water polo in the country is still relatively good.
Now, how to break through the water polo facing the "bottleneck", became the Liao Yiping and other coaches think about the problem. He said: "There is no doubt that water polo needs reform." Liao Yiping thinks, should start from the following aspects
How to start?
The first is to improve the spectacle of water polo. Now water polo is not yet recognized by the general public, is because the ornamental is not yet high. According to Coach Lin, water polo is so popular in Europe, in addition to its own tradition, there is an important factor is that their water polo matches are very exciting, strong confrontation, China can not be compared with them. Chinese water polo in the world's best performance is the Olympic Games, 9th, and every time and the European powerhouse team over, is a big score loss. "Only when the spectacle is there, the game looks good and the audience likes it, can there be a market."
Second, it is from the water polo own internal reform. Liao Yiping said, "In order to increase the spectacle and intensity of the game, the FINA Water Polo Technical Committee changed the previous 35-second attack time to 30 seconds. This shortens the attack time, which invariably increases the difficulty of the game and improves the confrontation."
And the third point is to constantly strengthen the popularity of water polo, so that water polo first of all in the masses in a stable footing, rather than simply in the professional team to train people from childhood to adulthood. Because purely as a competitive program, the cost of training an athlete is very high. Liao Yiping said: "Now, an athlete to spend 30,000 yuan a year, so the whole team down a year, at least 500,000 yuan. Like Shanghai, Guangdong conditions are better, 1 million yuan a year, or even 2 million yuan." Liao Yiping said, the key also depends on the popularization of the community and attention. Only popularized, the professional team will reduce the burden of training newcomers; only the community are concerned about, will lead to a large investment. Like Europe has a large-scale water polo clubs, if China can also set up water polo clubs or professional water polo school, then China's water polo will certainly go to the ranks of the world's advanced level.