Xue Chen and Xia Xinyi Aim for Olympic Glory After Comeback Victory in Brazil
Chinese beach volleyball stars Xue Chen and Xia Xinyi have their sights set on the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, following a triumphant return to form with a victory at the Saquarema Challenge in Brazil on March 31. They will be the only pair representing China in beach volleyball at the upcoming Games.
Just three weeks prior, the duo faced disappointment with an early exit at the Doha Elite 16 in Qatar. The setback lingered, pushing them to reevaluate and intensify their training.
“We had some ups and downs at the beginning of this year,” Xia reflected in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). “We failed to advance from the group stage at the first Elite competition. We were very upset at that time.”
Xue shared similar sentiments: “We were just wondering why European players were in such great form. Unlike them, we were still trying to build our form, so the loss made us feel that something wasn’t right.”
Determined to bounce back, Xue and Xia dedicated the following weeks to rigorous training in Rio de Janeiro. Their efforts paid off as they clinched the title in Saquarema, bolstering their confidence ahead of the Olympics.
“Our lesson from the loss in Doha was that we were not under enough pressure to win,” Xue explained. “We went back to Rio after Doha and had one to two weeks to train. So we forced ourselves to go for the best with every play. We kept telling ourselves to do this like real matches. Then we won the title in Saquarema.”
Both athletes have been standout talents since their youth. In 2006, at the age of 17, Xue partnered with Zhang Xi to win the FIVB World Tour stop in Shanghai, becoming the youngest player to secure a title in the tournament’s history. Xia broke that record in 2013 at just 16, teaming up with Xue to win in Phuket, Thailand.
Despite their individual successes, Xue and Xia faced challenges on the Olympic stage. They failed to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Competing with different partners at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, both were unable to reach the quarterfinals.
Reunited once more, the duo is eager to make a significant impact in Paris. “It’s our goal to stand on the podium in Paris,” Xue expressed to CMG. “But I don’t want to rush it.”
Echoing her partner’s sentiments, Xia added, “We want to play every match well and do it better and better every day.”
As they continue their journey towards the Olympics, Xue Chen and Xia Xinyi embody determination and resilience, striving to bring glory to China’s beach volleyball scene on the world stage.
Reference(s):
Xue Chen, Xia Xinyi bounce back ahead of 2024 Summer Olympics
cgtn.com
