From the appearance, it is difficult to tell that Chen Zhonghe is over 60 years old.

The Confucian coach who used to be on the women's volleyball court still maintains the same demeanor.

　　Being in a trance makes people feel that he seems to be the "Guard Chen" who lashed out at Fang Qiu while talking and laughing.

In fact, Chen Zhonghe has already started his retirement.

　　In 2003, he led the Chinese women's volleyball team to win the World Women's Volleyball Grand Prix finals, which was the first time that the Chinese women's volleyball team returned to the top of the world after a lapse of 17 years.

In 2004, Chen Zhonghe led the team to win the Athens Olympics. In the final against the Russian women's volleyball team, the Chinese women's volleyball team achieved a major reversal after being two games behind.

　　And now, 17 years have passed since the Athens Olympics won the championship.

Recent photos of Chen Zhonghe.

Photo by Wang Hao

　　Throughout Chen Zhonghe's coaching career, he has experienced the glory of leading the women's volleyball team to reverse the championship in the Athens Olympics, and also experienced the blow of the defeat at the door of the Beijing Olympics.

　　Regardless of the peak or the trough, the smile on his face is always the same.

　　What kind of life does "Guide Chen" lead after retirement?

Which game is the most satisfying and regrettable of his coaching career?

How does he view the prospects of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team in the Tokyo Olympics?

　　This time, he still smiled and said...

Data map: Chen Zhonghe.

retired life

Sino-Singapore Sports: Director Chen, can you tell us about your recent life and work?

　　Chen Zhonghe: I am retired now, and I am still relatively leisurely.

There are some volleyball matches, especially in Fujian, I will go take a look.

A while ago, Lang Ping and the others arrived in Zhangzhou. I went to see them and invite them to have a meal.

　　Sometimes participating in social activities once or twice is basically just sleeping naturally.

I think I'm too happy (now). The main thing in the afternoon is to drink tea with friends and exercise.

Sino-Singapore Sports: What is the difference between this retirement life and the busy life in volleyball-related work before?

　　Chen Zhonghe: Of course it is still different,

because (in volleyball work) there is a sense of responsibility in it, the sense of responsibility to the team, that kind of life will of course be very fulfilling and very stressful.

Sino-Singapore Sports: Have you missed the experience of coaching in the frontline at a certain moment, or if you have the urge to experience this feeling again?

　　Chen Zhonghe: Yes, of course, sometimes I think of coaching (experience). These things are still vivid now.

For example, sometimes I see a match between (Chinese team) and Russia, and I am still very excited, and sometimes I still can't control it.

If I calm down or relax, I will recall my eight-year coaching process. It should have been a harder time.

I only took 1 day off in 8 years, but I had a meaningful, fulfilling, and challenging time.

Data map: Chen Zhonghe instructs the team members.

Coaching career

Sino-Singapore Sports: I am very impressed with the 2004 Olympic Women's Volleyball Championship. It must be a very unforgettable experience for you, right?

　　Chen Zhonghe:

At that time, no one in the world said that they could lead a team to win the championship,

because (the average height of the players) was shorter than the Japanese team, with an average of just over 1.8 meters. No one was optimistic about such a team.

　　It's really difficult, because there is no advantage and no star.

A team must have stars, and the results will be relatively stable.

For example, the old women's volleyball team came out with Lang Ping, and the Chinese women's volleyball team now has Zhu Ting-such a good player who should be rare in 100 years.

　　But when

I took

it,

I didn't have a star, so it was more difficult. It was possible to win the championship by combining all aspects.

Sino-Singapore Sports: Was there something that really touched you at that time?

　　Chen Zhonghe: Yes.

Like when I just went out with a team (competition), I lost to Japan at that time.

Because I was very sad at the time, the team members sometimes came to comfort me and said that it didn't matter, we would work hard.

　　In 2001, I lost to Japan twice in the first half of the year, and with the same players behind, I never lost.

Data map: Chen Zhonghe and his former disciples jointly appeared at the 6th Silk Road International Film Festival.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Lu Ming

Sino-Singapore Sports: Did you have a good relationship with these disciples at that time?

Do you keep in touch with everyone?

　　Chen Zhonghe: I have a very good relationship with them. On my birthday one year, they secretly planned and organized my birthday.

It was still a windy and typhoon day, but I was invited to Fujian to celebrate my birthday, and I was very touched.

　　When we were going to get together in October this year, we did not get together last year because of the epidemic, so basically we would get together every year.

Although we team members say that there are more only children, they are still relatively pure. There is no chirping and crooked things, and the team members (the relationship between them) are still relatively rare.

Memories and regrets

Sino-Singapore Sports: Was the 2004 Olympic finals the most impressive and satisfying match of your coaching career?

　　Chen Zhonghe: Of course, because it is the Olympic Games after all, and the Olympic Games are only held every four years.

Then it was the last reversal after losing two games first. Of course, the memory is the deepest.

Sino-Singapore Sports: Do you feel any regrets in your coaching career?

　　Chen Zhonghe:

Of course it is Beijing (Olympics).

From the strength I analyzed at the time, Beijing should be no worse than Athens, or even better.

As a result, I didn't really get rid of my own pressure. This is the most regrettable thing in my life.

Data map: Chen Zhonghe and Lang Ping.

Sino-Singapore Sports: At home, I think there will definitely be players' pressures no matter how they dredge, right?

　　Chen Zhonghe: But first of all, the coach himself did not do a good job, so this is the most regrettable and unacceptable thing in my life.

Originally, the guiding ideology of my team was also to achieve good results in the 2008 Olympic Games held in my home country, but I only finished third.

I am not reconciled and could have done better.

Women's volleyball Olympic prospects

China-Singapore Sports: The topic of women's volleyball has been very hot. Will you still watch the Chinese women's volleyball match recently?

　　Chen Zhonghe: I will watch it if I have the right time.

This match (World Women's Volleyball League) is due to Lang Ping's consideration. I think she has made arrangements in advance.

Every coach's decision is not necessarily the same. Lang Ping has his own intentions.

　　I think all the goals are for the Olympics, and I think her approach is quite right.

I think it's normal to lose some goals in front, because after all, it was the second team and it was some substitutes in the past.

When the main players are all there, it's different-they have won, I don't think there is anything to criticize.

At the 2019 Women's Volleyball World Cup awards ceremony, the Chinese women's volleyball team reached the highest podium in the World Cup and achieved ten championships in three major competitions.

LEO photo source: Vision China

Sino-Singapore Sports: The Chinese women's volleyball team is about to participate in the Olympic Games. What is your opinion on the Olympic prospects of the women's volleyball team?

　　Chen Zhonghe:

At present, the women's volleyball team is still very strong. I think it can be said that the hope is greater than the previous one. I am still full of confidence in their defense in Tokyo, because now Zhu Ting and these younger players are more mature.

　　When I won the championship last time, I felt that I still encountered a lot of setbacks, especially the one with Brazil.

In terms of strength, there was still a slight gap with Brazil at that time, but our performance and mentality that day were particularly good, and we finally won the Olympic champion.

This time I feel that they are more mature than the previous one.

　　Of course, there are still many comprehensive factors in the competition, (overcome these factors) in order to win the championship in the end.

The Chinese team Zhu Ting is in the game.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang

Women's Volleyball Spirit

China-Singapore Sports: Director Chen, in your opinion, what is the difference between the current Chinese women's volleyball team and the group of women's volleyball and old women's volleyball teams you brought before?

　　Chen Zhonghe: There is no comparability, there is really no comparability.

Because at that time Yuan Weimin brought something out of nothing and rushed out of Asia to the world, that era should be the beginning stage.

　　After more than ten years of depression, although the Chinese did not win the championship, some coaches in the past are also working silently and fighting for the women's volleyball team.

　　Then, for various reasons, my generation is mainly passing on something from the old women's volleyball team.

In the process of inheritance, for example, some technologies have some innovations, but there are still some changes.

　　Lang Ping (head coach) has been more prominent in this session, especially in terms of talents. A group of high-quality players have just emerged, and then through some concept training of a compound team, such a group of good athletes have been created.

Data map: Chen Zhonghe and the fans.

China-Singapore Sports: Many people talk about the spirit of women's volleyball when they mention women's volleyball. How has the spirit of women's volleyball been reflected during your coaching period?

　　Chen Zhonghe: I often say that if you really want to embody the spirit of the women's volleyball team, everyone must do a good job every day. This is the most tangible thing.

365 days a year, 10 days can be good, 100 days is difficult, 365 days is harder.

　　I think it is really difficult to do well every day, because after all, people are inert, and she is a human being and not a god.

But when you are in the most difficult time,

when you are tired, can you take a step forward? This is the spiritual pillar and this is the spirit of the women's volleyball team.

　　Another one is, can you refuse to admit defeat when you encounter difficulties?

When I just teamed up, sometimes

I

lost,

I said we can lose the ball, we can't lose the spirit, you all smiled to me and went out.

Chen Zhonghe.

　　The future of women's volleyball

Sino-Singapore Sports: Have you observed how the women's volleyball project has developed at the grassroots level in recent years?

　　Chen Zhonghe: I think our grassroots development is not enough, it is relatively weak, and there is still a gap with Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

They (these countries) have more amateur players than us, and the proportion of their population is also many times different.

However, we are still very good at the top of the tower, and the overall investment, including the state's attention, is still very good.

(Author Wang Hao)