Original title: Xinhua News Agency exclusive interview with Li Yingying: There will be more pressure on the top police to be called the best player
Xinhua | In this team, Li Yingying, the main striker, is undoubtedly one of the brightest players.
On September 28, the player of the Chinese team Li Yingying broke the ball in the Group D group match of the first stage of the Women’s Volleyball World Championship. Photo by Meng Dingbo, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency.
With Zhu Ting, Zhang Changning and other top strikers absent, 22-year-old Li Yingying participated in the “three big competitions” (Olympics, World Championships, and World Cup) as the main force for the first time . He scored 179 points in the entire tournament, coming sixth among all players; she was also ahead in many technical lists such as serve and first pass. Although there have been ups and downs in performance, Li Yingying’s last “answer sheet” was satisfactory, and it also made people see more possibilities for this young player.
“Although I often went with the team to take part in the World Championships in the past, they always played in difficult times. He was considered a ‘special soldier’, depending on the opponent’s ignorance of me (to get points).” Li Yingying said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from Xinhua News Agency, “This year, from the World League to the World Championships, when I played in the main role, I found that the pressure became more psychologically and technically, and it started my opponents did that. pay attention to me and study me, so the difficulties faced were different.”
“I was nervous at first, and sometimes both hands trembled. ” Li Yingying admitted frankly.
On October 1, Chinese team player Li Yingying (left) and Wang Weiyi compete in the first stage of Group D. Photo by Meng Dingbo, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
The overall strength of the Chinese women’s volleyball team has a certain gap with the world’s best teams such as Brazil, Italy, Serbia, etc. It is not guaranteed to win against Japan, the Netherlands and other teams in the same group. In the face of a strong enemy, letting go is the only way out.
During the whole competition, Li Yingying received a total of seven interviews, and the word she said the most was “spell”.
After winning the first game of the group stage against Argentina – “No matter who we face, we all have the mentality of fighting and rushing the opponent.”
After losing to Brazil in the group stage – “Today we came up to attack them and fight for every point based on our own characteristics.”
……
No matter who the opponent is, Li Yingying and her teammates put themselves in a lower position, fully prepared for difficulties, and attack the opponent point by point.
In the first stage of the group stage, the Chinese team first defeated the weaker teams of Argentina and Colombia, and then won the key battle with the Japanese team in straight sets, taking the initiative to enter the next stage in their own hands. Despite the subsequent loss to the Brazilian women’s volleyball team, the Chinese team successfully advanced. In the five group games in the first stage, Li Yingying scored 22 points in three games, and scored 18 points and 19 points in the other two games.
On September 25, Chinese team player Li Yingying (front left) served in the first stage of the group game of Group D. Photo by Meng Dingbo, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency
Next, Li Yingying and her teammates faced three European teams, including World League champion Italy, the host Netherlands, and relatively good Puerto Rico.
Looking forward to the second stage of the group stage, Li Yingying once said: “I think I will definitely be a player who will be taken care of. I may face high blocking from the opponent in attack, including key marking. I have to prepare myself in advance. The opponent’s blocking formation, find a point to break through. I hope when the time comes I can find a solution to the problem.”
At this time, Li Yingying is already one of the hottest athletes on the field of these World Championships. Whether it’s foreign reporters, organizing committee staff, or local spectators, the first thing that comes to mind when referring to the Chinese team is – “That left hand attack is really good!”
The Chinese women’s volleyball team got off to a good start in the second group stage, and Li Yingying continued to perform consistently. In the fierce battle with the Netherlands, she still scored 23 points even though she was not in the best condition.
“With our firm belief in winning, we won the game.” Li Yingying commented on the match against the Netherlands.
Chinese team player Li Yingying (centre) lobs the ball in the round of 16 Group E second leg match against the Netherlands on October 6. Photo by Meng Dingbo, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency.
But in the arena, faith alone is not enough. In the next match with the Italian team, the Chinese women’s volleyball team lost 0:3, and Li Yingying’s performance was sluggish, scoring only 8 points. In her own words – “play mess”.
“I watched a lot of videos before the game. I watched last year’s games, this year’s games, including games from Italy and other countries. Because I wanted to win too much, I was very nervous. I I hesitate before making a move. This is my own problem, I didn’t use a logical way of thinking to face the game, I paid too much attention to the opponent, and ignored what I should do himself.”
After defeating Belgium to advance to the quarter-finals, the Chinese team encountered the Italian team again. Despite the final loss of 1:3 to the opponent, the performance of the Chinese team in the third game made people see the team’s hope, and Li Yingying’s performance was significantly better than last time.
“The second time I played against the Italian team, I lost, but I really enjoyed the game. I didn’t think too much about the final result. Instead, I wanted to show what I had i. Even if I lost, I would not be discouraged. It may be that my skills are not as good as others, it is nothing, and I will not stand still.” Li Yingying said. , “The two games against Italy gave me a lot.”
On October 11, Chinese team player Li Yingying (left) celebrates scoring in the quarter-final against Italy. Photo by Meng Dingbo, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency.
Since the first match of the World Championships, Li Yingying has been telling herself that every match against a strong team is a learning process. Only by seeing the gap with the main opponents can she know in which direction she should work hard in the future.
“In the future, the technology will be more elegant and better. In addition, the biggest (problem) is still at the psychological level, especially how to adapt when encountering difficulties, and how to change in flexible on key balls. The World Championships ended. that there are Good and bad, but for me, I think there are more good aspects. Now I am more and more confident on the court, and I feel that the distance with the top strikers gradually diminishing, not as far away as in the past.”
Isn’t Li Yingying the best player in the world now? When asked this question, Li Yingying said that she still has a certain gap and still has a long way to go.
But turning around, he told reporters again: “But I believe I will do better next time. (Being a first class player) is an expectation and a goal for me! I will do my best !”
Such an answer is just like the label he gave himself – optimistic and invincible!Return to Sohu, see more
