Current location:Earthly Insights news portal > world
Pucksters back in the big time
Earthly Insights news portal2024-05-22 05:32:42【world】8People have gathered around
IntroductionTeam China players celebrate with the trophy after winning the IIHF Division I Group A World Champio
Team China players celebrate with the trophy after winning the IIHF Division I Group A World Championship tournament in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. [Photo/Xinhua]
China promoted back to top division of women's game after 14-year absence
Some tears, a lot of sweat and a deep sense of pride. It's been 14 years in the making, but the Chinese women's ice hockey team is finally back in the big league after securing a long-awaited return to the world championship's top division.
And they did so in some style, dominating last week's IIHF Division I Group A World Championship in Shenzhen, Guangdong province with a perfect 5-0 record to earn promotion to the top flight next year.
The winning streak on home ice at the second-tier I-A tournament ended the team's absence from the top echelon after its last appearance there in 2009.
Captain Yu Baiwei is the only player in the current squad that remains from that 2009 side, and she couldn't hold back the tears after her unwavering efforts over a decade paid off.
"It's been so long and so tough that I had almost given up hope of getting back again. I am so happy that I didn't lose faith and we did it. I am over the moon now," Yu, a 35-year-old defender, said in an emotional postgame interview after Team China beat Austria 2-0 on Thursday to secure promotion with a match to spare.
"I really appreciate our whole team's efforts as one. I want to thank my teammates for helping me make it all worthwhile after spending so many tough years struggling and trying hard.
"It paves the way for us to go for qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics and we won't stop here for sure," added Yu, who made her national team debut in 2005 at 17.
The I-A championship in Shenzhen involved four other teams — the group's highest-ranked Denmark (11th), Norway, world No 15 Slovakia and the Netherlands.
Team China, who just climbed up from the third-tier I-B tournament last year, opened with a 1-0 victory over Slovakia on Aug 20. Then came an inspirational 5-3 comeback win against Norway before a stunning 4-2 triumph against championship favorite Denmark on Wednesday in what was arguably the highlight of China's campaign.
A 2-1 victory over the Dutch in the final match on Saturday kept the host unbeaten on home ice, while the Danes clinched the second promotion spot with a 4-1 rout of Norway to finish runner-up in Shenzhen.
"I am extremely proud of this whole group. It took everybody to pull this off," said Team China forward Lin Qiqi, known as Leah Lum in her native Canada.
"We fought hard this entire time. We've been here for so long and we deserve to be back in the main group," added Lin, who scored the vital first goal for Team China late in the second period against Austria.
The Chinese and Danes will be up against the world's heavyweights, such as Canada, the United States and Finland, at the 10-team top division tourney at Utica, New York in April next year.
For captain Yu, the return will also allow her to renew rivalries with some of her old foes — legendary Canadian forward Marie-Philip Poulin and her teammate Rebecca Johnston, and Sweden's long-serving goaltender Sara Grahn — the only three pucksters from the rest of the world still playing who competed in 2009 with Yu.
Now set to rejoin those hardy veterans, Yu said the promotion has given her extra motivation to continue her career.
"I am not done yet. As long as I am playing, I will try to deliver my best performances on the ice," she said.
Address of this article:http://cuba.cassettedesign.com/html-52e999860.html
Very good!(57499)
Related articles
- MPs' fury at 'virtue
- Fury at 'insane' NYC cops who fined mother for letting her four
- Week in Politics: Tax cuts and a spoonful of sugar
- Super Tuesday: What is it and why is it so important?
- Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
- JANET STREET
- Harry Styles and Niall Horan soak up the action at The Masters with the Love on Tour star watching 6
- Thierry Henry predicts Phil Foden's stunning goal in 3
- California congressman urges closer consultation with tribes on offshore wind
- Conan O'Brien reveals the WORST 'amateur move' a talk
Popular articles
Recommended
Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
9/11 first responder 'who shot a man dead in a South Carolina Chick
Legendary CBS announcer Jim Nantz gets tongues wagging on social media after making an X
Michael Douglas, 79, reveals the moment he realised his wife Catherine Zeta
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
Monica Garcia's baby daddy revealed to be Braxton Knight, 29
Gladiator II: Paul Mescal battles Pedro Pascal in first footage from Ridley Scott's highly
Conan O'Brien reveals the WORST 'amateur move' a talk
Links
- Highlights of BWF World Tour Finals 2023
- Subsidies Aim to Encourage More Births
- Over 5,600 Exhibitors Attend China Hi
- Beijing 2022 Olympic Athletes Honored at ANOC Awards 2022
- Beijing Winter Olympics Press Facilities Named Best in 2022 by AIPS
- Farmers Embrace Apple Harvest in Southwest China
- China to Further Integrate Culture, Tourism
- Output of Tibet's Culture Industry Grows Fourfold over Decade
- China to Strengthen Home Visit Services for Elderly
- Highlights of First Vocational Skills Competition of Jiangxi in E China