Hangzhou, China, September 22, 2023: China issued a chilling statement of their intent to win their first Asian Games women’s football title in 25 years with a ruthless 16-0 dismantling of Mongolia on Friday as coach Shui Qingxia insisted her focus is trained on her own team in the country’s quest for gold.
The Chinese last won the Asian Games title in Bangkok in 1998 during an era when the Steel Roses were the continent’s dominant force, claiming three consecutive gold medals and also winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup seven times in a row.
After more than a decade in the doldrums, Shui has overseen a return to the continental summit for China with victory at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup – their first since 2006 – and she is now setting her sights on adding Asian Games gold to her team’s recent haul.
“We have seen a lot of changes and uncertainty in other teams, like DPR Korea, but it’s not just about our rivals,” Shui said about the other contenders for the title. “Our true rival is ourselves.
“We need to figure out how to show our own strength to the fullest. We will, of course, analyse the matches of our rivals, but the most important thing is to focus on ourselves and stay positive.”
The Chinese were clinical in their relentless pursuit of victory, with star striker Wang Shuang netting five times before she was replaced by Ou Yiyao on the hour mark with China 11-0 up and the game long since won.
The Racing Louisville forward signalled China’s determination to notch up a statement win inside the opening 90 seconds, striking into the bottom corner of Erdenebileg Tsendjav’s goal to give the hosts the lead.
She added her second in the 18th minute after Wang Shanshan had made it 2-0 10 minutes earlier. Liu Yanqiu netted with a side-foot volley and Wang Shuang completed her hat-trick in the 26th minute from close range as the Chinese scored at will.
Wang Shanshan’s second came in the 31st minute and Wang Shuang scored her fourth when she bent a left-foot free kick into the top corner six minutes later.
The goals kept coming for the hosts: Liu Yan hit China’s eighth with a shot from distance that skidded off the wet turf past Erdenebileg six minutes before the interval while Yan Jinjin struck four minutes after the restart.
Substitute Wurigumula scored the 10th and Wang Shuang secured her fifth and final goal moments before going off. Zhang Xin scored twice in the final 15 minutes with Ou, Yan and Wurigumula also on target.
“The whole team’s performance was outstanding and Wang Shuang was just one of the team,” Shui said, refusing to single out individuals for praise. “I hope all the players can perform even better. We can be confident that we will perform great in all of our matches.
“In future matches we will face more competitive players and rivals and we hope to preform even better. I want my players to show their strength but at the same time I want them to retain their confidence.” (Michael Church/OCA Media)