China's women's volleyball team lost to Turkey in a recent international tournament, triggering a series of discussions about sports management and player selection. It seems that this result has triggered a deep reflection on the long-standing problem in the sports world, namely how the culture of "guankou" affects the purity and fairness of sports competition.
At key moments in the game, we witnessed the lack of playing opportunities for some skilled players such as Xu Xiaoting and Wang Yizhu, while some underwhelming players appeared on the pitch frequently. This phenomenon raises the question of whether it is the management's personal preferences, rather than the actual performance of the athletes, that determine who can play. When the selection process becomes opaque, it's easy to let relationships and context take the place of competence and performance as key factors in getting on the field.
Looking at the composition of the coaching team, there are coaches who are directly assigned by the Volleyball Association rather than through an open competition process. This approach is particularly rare in competitive sports, where the selection and turnover of coaching teams is often based on professional competence and historical performance in high-level competitions. However, if the acquisition and retention of the coaching position is not related to its technique and strategy, then the preparation and execution of the game will naturally not be optimal.
It is worth mentioning that the way Chinese volleyball and the entire sports system are managed seems to need to be re-examined. It's not just women's volleyball that's a problem, it's a variety of sports, from gymnastics to basketball. Sport is supposed to be a showcase for physical strength, skill and team spirit, but when the arena becomes a tool for some to demonstrate power and connections, true sportsmanship is overshadowed.
The development of grassroots sports is equally important. At present, some sports in China still adopt outdated training methods and concepts, and there is a big gap between them and the international advanced level. We need to fundamentally change this and give grassroots coaches and young athletes access to the latest training techniques and competition concepts. This is not only the need of the national team, but also the need for the entire sports industry to continue to improve.
In the context of practical change, attention should also be paid to athletes who are marginalized because of their geography and background. Talented athletes should be selected for their abilities and potential, not for their origins or the driving force behind them. Only when the selection and appearance of players are based solely on their performance in training and competitions can we say that the fairness and fairness of sports are truly manifested.
With the various problems that continue to be exposed in the sports world, we should be more deeply aware that the core of sports competition should be fairness and justice. In the context of sport, it is important to eradicate the short-sighted mindset that focuses only on results over process, because it will only end up destroying the foundations of competitive sport – integrity and fairness.
The manipulation and interference of sporting events should not be seen as trivial, as they fundamentally undermine the opportunities for athletes to compete according to their own efforts and strengths. Every unfair selection can kill the career of a promising athlete, while also eroding the morale of other athletes and the trust of the public. Therefore, the establishment of a transparent and efficient selection and management system is not only a need to improve the level of competition, but also a basic requirement for social justice.
We need to innovate in the system, such as establishing an independent oversight body to oversee the internal selection and decision-making process of sports organizations. Such oversight not only ensures the fairness of the selection process, but also increases the transparency of decision-making, so that both the public and athletes can understand the logic and criteria behind the selection. In addition, the use of modern technological means, such as big data and artificial intelligence, to analyze the performance and potential of athletes can also greatly reduce human bias and error.
Sports management needs to realize that only by putting aside personal interests can sports truly return to what it should be. This is not only a responsibility to athletes and coaches, but also to the majority of sports enthusiasts. A fair competitive environment can inspire more young people to devote themselves to sports, and through their hard work and sweat, they can win glory for the country on the international stage.
Change takes time, but it also requires strong determination and coherent policy support. But the most important thing is that every sportsman should stay true to their original aspirations, whether they are managers, coaches or athletes, should adhere to the spirit of sportsmanship and ensure that the sports arena is a place where skills and hard work speak.