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Big year ahead for resurgent 'Steel Roses'
2019-01-10 
Playmaker Wang Shuang has been a major reason behind the resurgence of China's women's team. [Photo/Agencies]

China's national women's soccer team is poised for a big rebound.

After winning silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 1999 FIFA World Cup, the "Steel Roses" hit the skids for a number of years, but over the past 12 months the squad has regained its form and is eyeing a strong showing at this summer's Women's World Cup in France.

The highlight of 2018 was a runner-up finish at the Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, followed by five straight shutout victories while amassing a mammoth 31-goal haul.

Although Team China lost the Asiad final 1-0 against Japan in its best showing since pocketing gold at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, it romped to victories over Mongolia (10-0), Hong Kong (6-0) and Chinese Taipei (2-0) to qualify for the finals of the East Asian Football Federation's E-1 Championship in Guam last month.

The finals will take place in South Korea later this year.

The team's resurgence is due in large part to ongoing reforms implemented by the coaching staff and the Chinese Football Association.

In 2017, the CFA split the national women's team into two parts-Team Red as the main force to represent China in major international competitions, and Team Yellow as a reserve squad for nurturing future talent.

Under the leadership of coach Jia Xiuquan and spearheaded by Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Wang Shuang and top scorer Wang Shanshan, Team Red has proved its worth by winning trophies at international tournaments.

Team Yellow is now under the guidance of head coach Park Tae-ha of South Korea, alongside compatriot Kim Chang-back, the legendary coach who helped Team China to women's field hockey silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Both Jia and Kim are famous for their dedication to old-fashioned hard work. For example, to prepare the Steel Roses for the Asiad, Jia installed his "hell model" training, which included two three-hour sessions a day. PSG star Wang described those workouts as the toughest the team has ever endured.

"I just hope the youngsters develop quickly to perform well at the World Cup and the Olympics," said Jia.

On a higher level, the CFA is pursuing more policies to support the growth of the women's game. The latest example is the Chinese Super League's announcement that, starting in 2020, its clubs will be required to field female sides.

Investment in each women's team must fall within a 15-30 million yuan limit.

"The CFA has negotiated with the US to establish an international youth training center for women's soccer, and the reason why we chose to open the center in the US is because of the Americans' advanced experience in women's soccer, especially at the university level," said China's deputy sports minister, Du Zhaocai.

"We have a plan called 'Making the Steel Roses bloom again'. Through the more mature men's soccer system, we are trying to make more policies such as the CSL clubs having women's squads. This will help take China's women's game to the next level."

At the World Cup in France, world No 15 China will take on two-time champion and world No 2 Germany and 12th-ranked Spain in Group B.

China will also face 48th-ranked South Africa in group play, with the top two in each pool and the four best third-place finishers qualifying for the last 16.

PSG's Wang, the country's lone representative in top-level European women's soccer, is expected to lead the charge after being named Asia's Women's Player of the Year for 2018.

"I can get used to Paris one year ahead of time. It will be a big help for the campaign. I am confident we can do well at the finals," Wang said.

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