Chen Boya, a name that has been prominent in the Tianjin women's volleyball team for seven or eight years, seems to have an ambiguous relationship with the position of "main spiker." Her height is not outstanding, her strength is not top-notch, and coupled with her older age, these factors seem to be silently hindering her steps towards a higher stage.
I have always had the view that Chen Boya may lack the ability to deliver the decisive blow at critical moments. Imagine if she had the opportunity to enter the national team and face strong opponents from abroad. They would undoubtedly target her weaknesses with serve attacks. At that time, whether she can withstand the pressure and not collapse is really uncertain.
Of course, I am not saying that Chen Boya is useless. After all, during her years with the Tianjin team, she has made significant progress under the careful guidance of coaches Wang Baoquan and Chen Fang. Her current state looks quite good. However, when we compare her with the veteran Gong Xiangyu, we must admit that there is still a considerable gap in their comprehensive abilities.
Gong Xiangyu, as the main spiker of the national team, has honed her receiving, setting, blocking, and small ball combination skills through major competitions, and her experience is extremely rich. As for Chen Boya, although her age and height are advantages to some extent, these cannot make up for her shortcomings in technical details and experience.
In domestic leagues, Chen Boya might still be able to perform well by relying on her characteristics and the unfamiliarity of some opponents. However, once on the international stage, the high-intensity competition and fast-paced games might make her feel overwhelmed, even to the point of being blocked until she's "dizzy."
However, it should be said that Chen Boya's efforts and progress over the years are undeniable. As a substitute for Gong Xiangyu, she is actually a pretty good choice. In the national team, she can continue to learn and improve her technical level and match experience. Perhaps she will never become a main spiker like Gong Xiangyu, but everyone has their own positioning and role.
For Chen Boya, if she has the opportunity to enter the national team, it would undoubtedly be the best affirmation of her efforts over the years. I hope she can seize this opportunity, prove herself with her performance on the court, and bring glory to the country. Even if she cannot become a main player, as a substitute, she can contribute to the team at critical moments and demonstrate her value. After all, volleyball is a collective sport, and everyone needs to strive for the victory of the team.