Original title: Xinhua News Agency exclusive interview with Li Yingying: Main force will be under more pressure to be called top player
Xinhua | In this team, Li Yingying, the main striker, is undoubtedly one of the hottest players.
On September 28, Chinese team player Li Yingying smashed the ball in the Group D match of the first stage of the Women’s Volleyball World Championship. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Dingbo
With Zhu Ting, Zhang Changning and other key strikers absent, 22-year-old Li Yingying participated for the first time in the “big three competitions” (Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup) as the main force. He scored 179 points in the entire tournament, finishing sixth among all players; she has also been at the forefront of many technical lists as a service and first pass. Although there were ups and downs in performance, Li Yingying’s final “answer sheet” was satisfying and also showed people more possibilities for this young player.
“Although in the past I have often accompanied the team to participate in the World Championships, they have always played in difficult times. He was considered a ‘special soldier’, relying on the opponent’s ignorance of me (to get points).” Li Yingying said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from the Xinhua news agency, “This year, from the World League to the World Cup, when I played the lead role, I found that the pressure became greater both psychologically and technically, and my opponents started paying attention to me and studying me, so the difficulties faced were different “.
“I was nervous at first, and sometimes both hands were shaking.” Li Yingying frankly admitted.
On October 1, Chinese team player Li Yingying (left) and Wang Weiyi compete in the first stage of Group D. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Dingbo
The overall strength of this Chinese women’s volleyball team has a certain gap with the best teams in the world such as Brazil, Italy, Serbia, etc. There is no guarantee that he will win against Japan, the Netherlands and other teams in the same group. When faced with a strong enemy, letting go is the only way out.
During the entire competition, Li Yingying accepted a total of seven interviews, and the word he said the most was “spell”.
After winning the first match of the group stage against Argentina – “No matter who we face, we all have the mentality to fight and run towards the opponent”.
After losing to Brazil in the group stage – “Today we came to attack him and fight for every point according to our characteristics”.
……
No matter who the opponent is, Li Yingying and his teammates put themselves in a lower position, fully prepare 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, then won the key battle with the Japanese team in two sets, taking the initiative to enter the next stage in their own hands. . Despite the subsequent defeat to the Brazilian women’s volleyball team, the Chinese team advanced successfully. In the five games of the first stage group, 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 D group match. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Dingbo
Subsequently, Li Yingying and her teammates faced three European teams, including World League champion Italy, host Holland and relatively good Puerto Rico.
Looking forward to the second round of the group stage, Li Yingying once said: “I think I will definitely be a player that will be taken care of. I may have to face a high block from the opponent in attack, including key marking. prepare in advance. The opposing defensive formation finds a point to break through. I hope that when the time comes to find a solution to the problem “.
Right now, 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 lefty attack is really good!”
The Chinese women’s volleyball team started well in the second group stage, and Li Yingying continued to perform consistently. In the fierce battle with the Netherlands, she still scored 23 points despite her not being in the best condition.
“With our firm belief in victory, we won the match,” Li Yingying commented on the match against the Netherlands.
Chinese team player Li Yingying (center) throws the ball in the Group E round of 16 rematch against the Netherlands on 6 October. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Dingbo
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 slow, scoring only 8 points. In her own words as she-she “she played a mess”.
“I saw a lot of videos before the game. I saw the games of last year, those of this year, including Italy and other countries. Because I wanted to win too much, I was very nervous. I hesitate to make a move. This one. it’s my problem, I didn’t use a rational way of thinking to face the match, I paid too much attention to the opponent and I ignored what I had to do. “
After defeating Belgium to move on to the quarter-finals, the Chinese team met the Italian team again. Despite the 1: 3 final defeat to the opponent, the Chinese team’s performance in the third game showed people the team’s hope, and Li Yingying’s performance was significantly better than last time.
“The second time I played against Italy I lost, but I liked the game a lot. I didn’t think much about the final result. Instead I wanted to show what I had. Even if I lost, I wouldn’t be discouraged. It can only be that my skills are not as good as the others, it is nothing and I will not stay still “. Li Yingying said: “The two matches against Italy have really given me a lot.”
Chinese team player Li Yingying (left) celebrates his goal in the quarter-finals against Italy on October 11, photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Meng Dingbo
Ever since the first game of the World Championships, Li Yingying has told herself that every game against a strong team is a learning process: only by seeing the gap with the best opponents can she know in which direction she should work hard in the future.
“In the future, the technology will be more delicate and better. Furthermore, the biggest (problem) is still on a psychological level, especially how to adapt when difficulties are encountered and how to flexibly change key balls. they are good and bad, but for me I think there are more positive aspects, now I am more and more confident on the pitch and I feel that the distance with the best forwards is progressively reducing, not as far away as in the past ».
Isn’t Li Yingying the best player in the world right now? When asked this question, Li Yingying said that he still has a certain gap and that there is still a long way to go.
But turning around, he told reporters again: “But I think I’ll do better next time. (Being a top player) is an expectation and a goal for me! I’ll do my best!”
Such an answer is just like the label it has given itself: optimistic and indomitable!Back to Sohu, see more
