Xue Chen and Xia Xinyi are set to represent China as the sole beach volleyball pair at the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Their recent victory at the Saquarema Challenge in Brazil marks a significant comeback after an early exit at the Doha Elite 16 in Qatar.
The duo clinched the title in Saquarema on March 31, just three weeks after their disappointment in Doha. Their struggle in the group stage at the first Elite competition left them questioning their form and readiness.
“We had some ups and downs at the beginning of this year,” Xia shared 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.”
“We were just wondering why European players were in such great form,” Xue added. “Unlike them, we were still trying to build our form, so the loss made us feel that something wasn’t right.”
Determined to improve, Xue and Xia dedicated two weeks to intense training in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on refining every aspect of their game. Their efforts paid off as they emerged victorious in Saquarema, boosting 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 forced ourselves to go for the best with every play during training. We kept telling ourselves to treat it like real matches. Then we won the title in Saquarema.”
Both athletes have shown exceptional talent from a young age. In 2006, Xue, then 17, became the youngest player to win an FIVB World Tour stop after triumphing in Shanghai with partner Zhang Xi. Xia broke that record in 2013 at the age of 16 when she teamed up with Xue to win in Phuket, Thailand.
Despite their individual successes, Xue and Xia failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics and faced setbacks at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where their teams did not reach the quarterfinals. Now reunited, they are aiming to leave a mark 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.”
“We want to play every match well and do better every day,” Xia concluded.
Reference(s):
Xue Chen, Xia Xinyi bounce back ahead of 2024 Summer Olympics
cgtn.com
