bbrbetLiu Shaoang (R) and Lin Xiaojun (L) of China compete during the men's 500m final at the ISU World Cu

Chinese short 813bettrackbbrbet skaters call for end to online abusepag bet

Liu Shaoang (R) and Lin Xiaojun (L) of China compete during the men's 500m final at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Beijing,<strong>bbrbet</strong> China, Dec. 9, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

Liu Shaoang (R) and Lin Xiaojun (L) of China compete during the men's 500m final at the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. Photo: Xinhua


Chinese short track skaters called on Thursday for an end to online abuse targeting the national team skaters, with each member of the Chinese national team posting on social media to underline the unity of the team.

Liu Shaoang, winner of men's 1,000 meters at the ISU short track World Cup Beijing, had a collision with teammate Lin Xiaojun in the men's 500 meters on Saturday, costing him a leading position in the third lap. Liu has been one of the victims of the online abuse lately.

Lin, the most popular skater in China's short track squad, was given a penalty for causing the collision by the ISU, with Liu finishing in fourth place. However, some radical fans of Lin took to social media to blame Liu for "blocking" Lin's progress route. 

"We live together, we train together, we compete together. The healthy competition between teammates is the reason for our rapid improvement," Lin wrote on Weibo on Thursday in his latest call to stop the cyber violence toward his teammates. 

"I call for all the fans to take action against online violence. Become a boycotter to it rather than being misled to be a participant."

Liu said the online abuse has distracted the team from competitions. The team, currently in Seoul, South Korea is in preparation for the ISU short track World Cup event at the weekend. Lin has skipped the event due to injury concerns. 

"There are ice fans who really like short track speed skating, but there are also a lot of abusive quarrels. This is not what we want to see. It brings a lot of trouble for all athletes," Liu said. "We need to put a lot of effort into focusing on the competition and training."

The men's 500 meters was considered one of the most promising events for China at the Beijing event, with Lin, Liu and his elder brother Liu Shaolin ranked among the favorites.

Lin has condemned the online abuse, but some fans vented their fury anyway.

The national team head coach Zhang Jing has also come under fire online, with radical fans accusing her of "lowering" the team's performances on the international stage. 

Veteran female skater Fan Kexin, a three-time Olympian who was decorated as an Olympic gold medalist at the Beijing 2022 Games, noted that the unity of the team is deeper than it looks. 

"The camaraderie and unity of this team runs much deeper than what the outside sees through fragmented information," Fan said. 

"We hope that all the fans will focus on the sport itself, and create a healthier, more positive online environment, a sports atmosphere that encourages respect, sincerity and unity."

Short track events in China have become increasingly popular in China and they often attract countless fans.

Mao Jiale, a Chengdu-based sports commentator, said the collective response from the team is extremely rare, which indicates the urgency of addressing the fandom issue.

"The fandom culture has stepped into the sports world, and short track skating is not immune to it," Mao told the Global Times. "If the team hadn't realized the urgency of addressing the issue, it would go even further."

He said that the online abuse would not disappear overnight, but delivering solid performances would be a cure to "alleviate the pains."

"If the team continue to win, the quarrels will for sure decrease," Mao said.

The national team has won five gold, five silver and six bronze medals at three ISU World Cup events, ranking in the fourth place to trail South Korea, Canada and the Netherlands.


RELATED ARTICLESChina bags 3 medals at ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup

China bags 3 medals at ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup

Highlights of ISU World Speed Skating Championships

Highlights of ISU World Speed Skating Championships

People enjoy themselves at skating rink in St. Petersburg, Russia

People enjoy themselves at skating rink in St. Petersburg, Russia

访客,请您发表评论:

网站分类
热门文章
友情链接

© 2024. sitemap