On 27th, the gymnastics women’s individual all-around event of Hangzhou Asian Games was held in the gymnasium of Huanglong Sports Center. China’s Zhang Jin, who won the first place in the qualifying competition, was highly anticipated by everyone. She and her teammate Zuo Tong received high-decibel cheers when they appeared. Japanese players Okamura Makoto and Niu Aoxiaoyu are also considered to be strong contenders for the championship. It should have been a wonderful Asian Games women’s “all-round king” dispute, but there were several waves.
The accident happened in the vault first. During the second warm-up, Niu Aoxiaoyu of the Japanese team accidentally sprained after landing and retired. Perhaps influenced by unexpected circumstances, the contestants made mistakes one after another, including Zhang Jin.
Before the vault competition, Zhang Jin made a long preparation. Run-up, flying, landing, when completing the action landing, Zhang Jin didn’t stand firm and stepped out of bounds, so he was deducted.
In the subsequent uneven bars project, Zhang Jin was quite nervous when he appeared on the stage. In the competition, after a spin in the air, her hand slipped and failed to catch the bar, and her body fell flat on the mat. There was a burst of exclamation at the scene. After jumping on the equipment again, the little girl still showed her lack of confidence and swung back and forth on the equipment several times before continuing to do the action. Just as she flew from the low bar to the high bar, she fell off the bar again. Two mistakes in succession hit Zhang Jin’s confidence, and the little girl frowned.
“Zhang Jin, come on!” Some quiet audience suddenly heard a cheer, which immediately led to more people, and everyone cheered for the little girl in unison. In the end, Zhang Jin only got 10.100 points in this action, and missed the competition for “Almighty King” in advance.
In the mixed interview area after the game, many people were waiting for Zhang Jin to come out. When I saw her, the little girl’s face was even calmer. She told the story of the game. “When the vault and uneven bars compete, the psychological pressure is really great, and the uneven bars project is the one I am most worried about. I am a little nervous when I play.” She said. “In the last two events, I still hope to stand on the podium, so I will let go of the competition and do every move well.”
In the later games, Zhang Jin didn’t give up. During the gap between other players’ games, she practiced her own game movements over and over again on the sidelines. In the last two events, balance beam and floor exercise, she did well and finally won the fourth place. The champion was pocketed by 17-year-old Zuo Tong.
Zhang Jin, who is born after 00, will be 23 years old in two months, but this age is already regarded as some “old age” among gymnasts in China. Zhang Jin gradually emerged in the Tokyo Olympic cycle. In 2018, Zhang Jin broke the seven-year all-around champion shortage for China women’s gymnastics. At the Asian Games in Jakarta, Zhang Jin and her teammates won the women’s team gold medal for China. At the same year’s Gymnastics World Championships, she also won the third place in the women’s team with China. Entering the Paris Olympic cycle, Zhang Jin still insists on practicing every day and being herself, and has won in the national championship, the Asian championship and the Chengdu Universiade.
At this Asian Games, the “big sister” of the gymnastics women’s team has won a team gold medal. Next, she will also participate in the balance beam and floor exercise, expecting this “veteran” to shine again.