Chapter 133: National Team Experience (1/2)
Chapter 133: National Team Experience
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Jinrong Hu was the head coach of the long jump group for the national track and field team. He had been an outstanding athlete himself when he was young. He broke the national record for long jump, won gold medals in the Asian Games and Asian Championship, and was once regarded as the No. 1 long jumper in Asia.
After retiring, Jinrong Hu transitioned into a coaching career. He trained a few outstanding athletes, and more than one of them achieved a level A ranking for the Olympics. For an Asian athlete, qualifying for Olympic level A was a rare and commendable achievement.
This time, it was indeed Jinrong Hu who had come to Qingcheng. He had heard about a genius athlete who had jumped 7.84 meters at the age of 16, and broken the national U16 record. Without hesitation, he had decided to come for a visit himself.
A grand reception was held upon Jinrong Hu's arrival to Qingcheng. These days, even a low-ranking official from a national ministry would have been received as a high official at local branches. Jinrong Hu was a renowned head coach for the national team. When he visited a provincial youth team, he would receive more attention than a chief of a provincial sports bureau.
”Warm Welcome to National Team Coach Group for Visiting and Instructing Us”
Bin Lu stared at the scrolling red banner hung up high in the air, determined to send Haiquan Fang to the national team.
I have been the head coach of the youth team for so many years, but this is the first time I will be able to send an athlete to the national team! Thinking about this, Bin Lu shouted to the newly assembled welcome team at the top of his voice, ”Cheer up guys! The national team crew is arriving soon!”
Once Bin Lu said this, a minibus drove by slowly. It was a bus from the provincial sports bureau. Although the national team coach had come for Haiquan Fang, the provincial sports bureau was the first organization to be welcomed.
”Here they are!” Bin Lu was the first to greet everyone. The minibus stopped, and the door opened. The provincial sports bureau officials got out of the bus first. Then came Jinrong Hu.
”That is Coach Hu. He has gained weight since his younger days,” an elder coach said.
”You know Coach Hu?” a younger coach asked.
”I know him, but he does not know me. I remember twenty years ago when Coach Hu won the long jump championship in the Asian Games. The newspaper used three pages to cover his story,” the elder coach replied.
”Look, a national team coach is full of swagger. Look at his radiance. I'm such a dinosaur compared to him!” someone else muttered.
”Of course, he is a renowned coach for the national team. I do not think I have a chance to coach on a national team for the rest of my life!”
”You guys are too old to join the national team. They will not take old birds like us. I think Dai Li is the only one on our team who may have a chance!”
The topic of conversation automatically shifted to Dai Li. When Xuexi Zhuang heard the conversation, he became furious again.
The long jump team was mine! It should have been my glory! Xuexi Zhuang was still upset about his history with the long jump team. Not far from him, Bin Lu and Jinrong Hu exchanged a few kind words. Bin Lu introduced Jinrong Hu to his two deputies, then summoned Dai Li upfront.
”This is Dai Li, coach of our long jump team. Haiquan Fang has always been trained under Dai Li,” Bin Lu introduced.
The national team was here to check Haiquan Fang out. As Haiquan Fang's coach, Dai Li garnered attention as well. During the inspection of the national team, they would surely be presented with the training, and observe the daily training of Haiquan Fang. Dai Li played a major role in both events.
”Isn't this Dai Li?” Jinrong Hu recognized Dai Li right away.
Jinrong Hu already knew Dai Li, as Dai Li had temporarily transferred to the Beikou Training Center for a while last year. Jinrong Hu had happened to be at the Beikou base during the same time.
For most temporarily transferred personnel, Jinrong Hu may not have paid attention, or would have forgotten about them already. But Dai Li was different. On his first day after transferring, he was personally appointed by Feixiang Lin. From that moment on, Jinrong Hu had paid special attention to Dai Li.
Towards the end of the three-month transfer period, the other transferred personnel had already left. But Dai Li had been requested to stay an additional month. Because of this, Jinrong Hu was impressed with Dai Li, and remembered him. This ”remembrance,” however, was no more than a shallow impression. All he remembered was the temporarily transferred staff who had stayed one more month was named ”Li” by the others, and nothing more.