On December 19, 2024, CCTV reported that Gou Zhongwen, the former director of China's General Administration of Sport, was arrested. This news was welcomed by netizens who had been paying attention to this "professional" who had caused turmoil in table tennis and football, deeply harming Liu Guoliang and Cai Zhenhua.
In 2016, after the retirement of the old director Liu Peng, many people thought that Cai Zhenhua would be the next to take the position, as he had made a name for himself in the table tennis world. However, unexpectedly, Gou Zhongwen "parachuted" into the position of director of the General Administration of Sport. Although he had excelled in the field of electronic information, he had no background in sports, which led to widespread doubts about how an outsider could lead the sports industry.
Despite some believing that Gou Zhongwen had the capability to lead due to his appointment, his first act upon taking office was to "eliminate dissidents." He removed experienced figures like Cai Zhenhua and Liu Guoliang from their positions, leading to internal chaos within the sports administration. This culminated in a boycott by top players like Ma Long and Zhang Jike during the national table tennis league in 2017, protesting against Gou Zhongwen's actions and calling for Liu Guoliang's reinstatement. However, this only resulted in further punishment for Liu Guoliang and criticism for the players.
Gou Zhongwen's reforms were also criticized for being impractical and not considering the differences between various sports. His "physical fitness competition" standard required all athletes to pass physical fitness tests, regardless of their sport's specific requirements. This led to talented athletes in skill-based events like diving and table tennis being unable to compete due to not meeting the physical standards set for power and endurance sports.
His proposed reform for football, where local players' goals would count as 1.5 points, was met with ridicule and disappointment from fans, as it did not address the fundamental issues plaguing Chinese football.
In 2022, Gou Zhongwen was forced to step down from his position amidst declining performance across various sports. Two years later, he was arrested on charges of serious disciplinary violations, bribery, and abuse of power, facing legal sanctions.
This incident has sparked discussions on the necessary qualities of leaders in the sports sector, emphasizing the importance of having knowledgeable and respectful leaders to guide the future of sports towards greater success.
