Official Arrest! The Highest Official Position in China's Sports World to Date, Liu Guoliang and Cai Zhenhua Deeply Affected
—【Introduction】—
On December 19, 2024, Gou Zhongwen, the director of China's General Administration of Sport, was arrested. As the "top leader" in the sports world, Gou Zhongwen has caused no shortage of controversy during his tenure.
Ever since Gou Zhongwen was investigated in May this year, people have been paying attention to his news. Now, it can be said that there is a result. So, what did Gou Zhongwen do during his tenure that made netizens applaud his arrest?
—【Controversy After Gou Zhongwen Took Office】—
Gou Zhongwen's name is both praised and criticized in the sports world. As the highest-ranking official involved in China's sports world to date, news of his arrest has caused a sensation online.
Many people have questioned Gou Zhongwen's rise to power. After all, the hot candidate for the position of director of the General Administration of Sport was Cai Zhenhua. As an influential figure in China's sports world, Cai Zhenhua's resume is glorious.
He started as an outstanding table tennis player and achieved remarkable results on the court with his excellent skills and tenacious fighting spirit.
After retiring, he devoted himself to coaching and led the Chinese table tennis team to one peak after another, making great contributions to the development of China's table tennis career.
Later, he took office at the General Administration of Sport and demonstrated extraordinary leadership ability. During his tenure as deputy director, he actively promoted the development of various sports, especially after taking over football, the performance of the Chinese men's football team significantly improved.
Whether viewed from his professional background or actual contributions, it seemed that Cai Zhenhua's appointment as director of the General Administration of Sport was the general consensus. However, the final outcome was surprising, and Gou Zhongwen successfully won the election against Cai Zhenhua.
It is understood that Gou Zhongwen previously had a successful reform experience in the education system, which may have allowed him to stand out in this competition. However, education and sports are two different fields, as the saying goes, "Different trades are like different mountains," and this outcome has sparked widespread controversy.
Many netizens believe that the sports industry needs leaders who have a deep understanding and rich experience in sports, and Gou Zhongwen's "cross-border" appointment seems to have buried hidden dangers from the beginning.
"How can someone who doesn't understand sports lead sports? Isn't this a joke?" "Cai Zhenhua is so capable but didn't get selected, is there something fishy here?" Similar doubts continue to be heard.
—【Table Tennis Crisis】—
Because he competed with Cai Zhenhua for the position of sports bureau director, the two of them also had contact. Perhaps due to the strong competition from his opponent, Cai Zhenhua suffered suppression and exclusion after Gou Zhongwen took office.
Once holding an important position in the General Administration of Sport, his power gradually became hollowed out. He eventually had to leave the General Administration of Sport helplessly and was transferred to serve as vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, completely告别了他为之奋斗多年的体育事业核心舞台。
This change made many people feel regretful and indignant, "Cai Zhenhua's contribution to Chinese sports is obvious to all, yet he was squeezed out like this, it's too unfair." "Gou Zhongwen is eliminating dissidents and paving the way for his own power expansion."
Liu Guoliang's experience is equally heartbreaking. Gou Zhongwen first abolished the positions of head coach for the men's and women's national table tennis teams, then transferred Liu Guoliang, who served as the head coach of the national table tennis team, to serve as vice-chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association. On the surface, it seems that Liu Guoliang has been promoted, but in fact, he has been deprived of actual control over the national table tennis team and has been completely marginalized.
This approach has aroused strong dissatisfaction among the national table tennis players, and they expressed their protest against Gou Zhongwen through a strike. At the 2017 ITTF World Tour China Open, many famous national table tennis players such as Ma Long, Xu Xin, and Zhang Jike collectively went on strike, shocking the nation.
"How can Liu Guoliang, the soul figure of the national table tennis team, be treated like this?" "The strike is a helpless move; they are protesting for Liu Guoliang and also fighting for the future of Chinese table tennis." Netizens expressed understanding and support for the actions of the national table tennis players, while also severely condemning Gou Zhongwen's actions.
—【Mysterious Operations During His Tenure】—
If his appointment caused controversy, then his series of reforms during his tenure can be said to have plunged China's sports world into chaos. Among them, the "Physical Fitness Grand Competition" initiative is the focus of controversy.
He disregarded the characteristics and needs of different sports and forcibly implemented a unified physical fitness testing standard. Whether it is table tennis and badminton that emphasize skill, long-distance running that emphasizes endurance, or short-distance running that relies on explosive power, all athletes must undergo physical fitness tests according to the same standards.
This approach seriously violates the basic principles of sports science and disrupts the normal training rhythm of athletes. Many outstanding athletes lost the opportunity to participate in competitions because they could not pass this unreasonable physical test, including world champions and Olympic champions like Fu Yuanhui and Ye Shiwen.
This incident has aroused strong dissatisfaction within and outside the sports world, and netizens have criticized Gou Zhongwen's "blind command." "This is completely unprofessional. How can athletes from different events use the same physical test standards?"
"The purpose of physical testing is to select talent, not to eliminate talent. What he is doing is purely destroying the future of Chinese sports." In the field of football, some of Gou Zhongwen's decisions are equally ridiculous.
In order to encourage U23 football players, he proposed the bizarre rule of "counting one goal as 1.5 goals," which seriously undermines the fairness and competitiveness of football matches, making the results even worse.
At the same time, he also led the farce of the "Evergrande National Team," allowing the CSL club Guangzhou Evergrande to take on the responsibility of forming the Chinese men's national football team.
This approach not only broke the normal system for selecting football talent but also raised many questions about unfair competition.
"Evergrande National Team, isn't this special treatment? What about players from other clubs?" "How can such a national team have combat effectiveness? It's completely a mess." Netizens sneer at these practices, believing that Gou Zhongwen's decisions have seriously harmed Chinese football.
—【Reflections Brought About】—
Gou Zhongwen's improper behavior during his tenure has inflicted heavy wounds on Chinese sports. The development of Chinese sports has stagnated, and performance has declined in some projects where it originally had advantages.
Many netizens are thinking, if Cai Zhenhua had been appointed director of the General Administration of Sport at the beginning, would the development of Chinese sports have been a different picture? Judging from the comments of netizens, most hold a negative attitude towards Gou Zhongwen's behavior.
They believe that the position of director of the General Administration of Sport is crucial, concerning the rise and fall of China's sports industry, and must be held by someone who truly understands and loves sports. Gou Zhongwen's "cross-border" appointment and a series of improper decisions not only damaged the interests of Chinese sports but also dampened the enthusiasm of sports enthusiasts.
"Chinese sports can't continue to be tossed around like this. We must learn lessons and select leaders who are truly capable and responsible." "We hope that relevant departments will pay attention to this incident, strengthen the selection and cultivation of sports management talents, and put Chinese sports back on the right track."
Now, Gou Zhongwen has been officially arrested, which can be said to be truly pleasing to the people.
Information source: Gou Zhongwen, former director of the General Administration of Sport, has been arrested on two charges. It is reported that he "engaged in power-for-sex transactions."
Gou Zhongwen, arrested