Dialogue Jiang Chuan, captain of the Chinese men’s volleyball team: Why did I choose to play in Japan
As for the Chinese men’s volleyball team, the just-concluded World League is the first step for the team to impact the Paris Olympic Games; As for Jiang Chuan, the captain of the Chinese men’s volleyball team, moving to the V1 League next season is a new starting point for his career.
Jiangchuan is handsome in appearance and outstanding in football skills. He won the most valuable player in the Chinese men’s volleyball league before he was 23 years old and later became the captain of the Chinese men’s volleyball team. He is a well-deserved leader in the Chinese men’s volleyball team.
In the new season, Jiangchuan will put on the jersey of JT Thunder Club and compete in the Japanese V1 league. At the age of 28, he finally started his career of staying abroad.
It is Jiang Chuan’s dream to play abroad and improve himself in a wider world. After leading the Beijing men’s volleyball team to win the league championship last season, Jiang Chuan completed an “essential” goal in his career. Now, he is heading for the next goal.
Although it has been selected by many overseas giants several years ago, everything about staying abroad seems strange to Jiangchuan. In the dialogue with China-Singapore sports a few days ago, Jiang Chuan showed the reasons for going to Japan to play basketball and the long-term planning for his career.
Zhongxin sports: as the captain of the Chinese men’s volleyball team, many overseas clubs have thrown olive branches at you. Why did you choose Japan for the first stop of playing abroad?
Jiangchuan: The final decision to play in Japan is the result of comprehensive consideration in many aspects. In fact, since entering the national team, I have received invitations from clubs in Italy, Poland and France. I am also very eager to go out to study and communicate.
When you are young, you will feel very excited when you receive an invitation from a wealthy family. However, as we grow older, more dimensions are considered. Staying in foreign countries is not a simple way to play in another place. There are many practical problems that need to be considered, including one’s own life, integration into the new team, communication with the coach and language. Only when the field is fully prepared can the ball be played well.
Japan is close to China and relatively easy to adapt. Players who have played in Japan in recent years have also received better feedback on increasing their skills. I think the first step of playing abroad is to take it slowly. This will be helpful to my personal development, and all parties are also very supportive.
Leading Beijing men’s volleyball team to win the league championship is an essential goal in my sports career. After the team won the championship last season, around my future career planning, the club leaders had an exchange with me. Everyone thought that we should take the first step well and firmly, so we finally chose to play in Japan. I am also looking forward to the future sustainable development.
In fact, there are other clubs to choose from, but JT Thunder team is more competitive and has a good lineup configuration, including the introduction of Russell, the main attacker from the United States. If we combine with each other, it should have a good effect.
Zhongxin sports: Last season JT Thunder ranked sixth in the league. What are the club’s goals for the new season? The new coach of the team is an Argentine LOZANO who once coached the Chinese men’s volleyball team. Did he have any communication with him before and after signing the contract?
Jiangchuan: last season, the JT Thunder performance was not ideal, and the team hoped to make a breakthrough. In competitive sports, we must strive for the first place in everything. No matter what the result was last year, since we took part in the competition, we must strive for the best ranking.
After I was sure to join, Lozano came to JT thunder. I joined the team one step earlier than him. For his arrival, I was very surprised. After all, there had been cooperation, which was a process of renewing the front, and they would not feel strange to each other.
But this time, unlike before, I played the role of a foreigner. The new season will start in late October, and I will arrive in advance in order to run in with the team. I hope to do my best to help the club achieve its goals.
Zhongxin sports: How much do you know about Japan’s V1 League before? For the new season, what are you most worried about?
Jiangchuan: For the V1 league, because there are players around to play in Japan, we know the relevant overview. But I didn’t pay much attention to it before, and I am still understanding it.
As for worry, now everything is still unknown, everything is my imagination. For me, I have never experienced many aspects such as eating, living and doing in playing abroad this time, and I am also making preparations seriously. When I really encounter difficulties, it is my greatest test.
Zhongxin sports: through the experience of playing abroad, what changes do you want to bring to the Chinese men’s volleyball team?
Jiangchuan: In my opinion, the team strength in V1 league is not weak, and the recruitment of each team is relatively successful. Many world-class stars play in Japan, and the star lineup is very luxurious. Competing with them is a kind of exercise for me.
The development and operation of the V1 League may be different from that of the Super League, and there are also places to learn from and learn from. Apart from the league, I think the combination of youth development and physical education is the future direction and trend, and Japan has done a relatively perfect job in this respect.
I hope I can have a deeper understanding of Japan’s youth training system and campus sports this time, and bring these insights back to China to help the development and future planning of Chinese volleyball through what I can do.
Zhongxin sports: in this world men’s volleyball league, the Japanese team has a good record. What can be used for reference by Chinese men’s volleyball team?
Jiangchuan: There are several players playing abroad in the Japanese men’s volleyball team, which is inseparable from the growth of their experience. Lack of height is the short board of the Japanese team, which may restrict the upper limit of the team, but they have done their best in other links, which is the place where Chinese men’s volleyball team should learn.
Since the Tokyo Olympic cycle, the Japanese men’s volleyball team has been relatively neat, the team is in good condition, and the players have more experience than us. A team will always have troughs and peaks. Only when they have experienced setbacks can they reach today’s height.
Through the reorganization of the Paris Olympic cycle, in fact, the Chinese men’s volleyball team is also going through this process, but it still needs time to hone. I think this road is right and hope the peak will come as soon as possible.
Zhongxin sports: playing basketball in Japan is the first step. What do you expect from yourself? After taking this step, are there any other longer-term plans?
Jiangchuan: For me, learning is endless. All aspects of their own skills need to be improved, especially the weak links such as defense and ball.
This time I went to Japan to play basketball. I also want to try new technologies, including fields that have not been involved before. I hope I can adapt to my life in Japan and live in harmony with the team. I also look forward to improving myself and taking another step to share my experience with you after returning home.
As for the future, we still need to plan carefully. After all, there are many players at the age of 35 who are still playing in the international arena. I am 28 years old and still have a long way to go in the future. I hope my future planning can help the Chinese men’s volleyball team make some breakthroughs in performance.
Zhongxin sports: personally, what are your goals for this year?
Jiangchuan: I am eager to return to the stadium. From now on, my biggest goal this year is to recover as soon as possible, return to the national team as soon as possible, and keep up with the pace of the Chinese men’s volleyball team.
For this injury, the recovery process in July and August is very critical. I hope that through this period of time, I can return to the state of being able to play the game, so that it is meaningful to return to the team and make contributions to the Chinese men’s volleyball team. On the contrary, even if I go back, it is difficult to help the team, which I do not want to see.
As for the specific time of return, I hope to catch up with the World Championship which was unveiled at the end of August.
China new sports: What are the goals of the Chinese men’s volleyball team for the Paris cycle?
Jiangchuan: during the Paris cycle, the primary goal of the Chinese men’s volleyball team is to rush into the Olympic Games, which is understandable. Next year’s qualifier will start, and the competition system is more brutal than before. The contingency of the competition system is very large, and all teams have opportunities.
From the world men’s volleyball league, it can be seen that the Chinese team now has certain strength. This World League has achieved the goal of training the team, especially the young players. It is a pity to lose in some matches, which exposes the shortcomings of the team, which is the direction of our future efforts. Everyone thinks that the World League has gained a lot and hopes to make up the gap through training.
We will use this year’s time to solve problems and make progress and improvement. The Paris cycle can look forward to the Chinese men’s volleyball team.