Pity! The Luxembourg team missed the round of 16, the players hugged their heads and cried, and Ni Xialian apologized with tears in her eyes!
The competition in Busan has reached the final round. In the first leg of the group stage, Rusenberg took on Portugal.
Luxembourg sent Charonne Nee, De Nuerte and Gundlinger, while Portugal sent Jenny Shaw, Yu Fucheng and Matthews.
The level of Portuguese athletes is a bit higher. They beat Rusenberg 3-0 to move into 16-16.
The 60-year-old Chinese Ni Xialian formed an overwhelming advantage over Portugal's Jeanne Shaw after three rounds of battle. The two played inextricably and inextricably in five innings. It's a pity that Ni Xialian lost with a score of 2-3, which is really regrettable.
Nicharen played for Rusenberg in the opening round. In the first match, both teams played hard with Giannishaw, with Nicharen winning the first set 11-9. In the second leg, the two teams were tied again, and the score took turns to rise. Giannishaw tied the game with 15:13. In the third game, Ni Xialian was in good shape and quickly won the game with a score of 11-5. In the fourth, to the fifth, the two teams were again a close game, and the score was pulled apart. Jenny Shao won two sets in a row, 11-9 and 12-10. In the end, Jenny Shao defeated Ni Xialian 3:2 to open the scoring for Portugal.
Buyeo won 3-0 against Deno in the second game. The Buyeo team won 11-8 in the first game. The second game was inseparable, and in the end Buyeo won 12-10. Buyeo won 11-8 in the third game.
In the third game, Matos won 3-0 against Gundrlinger. Matos won the game with ease, while Gunderlinger scored 6,9,6 in three games.
After the defeat to Portugal, the Luxembourg women not only did not enter Busan's 16-8, but also lost the opportunity to participate in the Paris Olympics. For the team, this is critical and difficult.
The Luxembourgger's was saddened after losing this match. They hugged each other and wept.
The same goes for Ni Xiaolian. At the age of 60, although she doesn't care so much about many things, she still feels sad after her failures.
Rusenberg's level is average, but they qualified for the final. They won 3-0 against South Africa. Luxembourg reached the knockout stage with a 2-2 record of 6 points. Ni Xialian's husband and her coach, Tommy, gave the goddess of the team, Ni Xialian, a big hug at the moment of victory. She laughed happily. At that time, she was happy in her heart.
But happiness is always fleeting. Luxembourg lost to Portugal in a 16-16 match and thus lost their qualification to 16-4.
Ni Xiaolian is the backbone of the team, and of course she is sad. Still, she still had to reassure her teammates.
Ni Xiaolian said in an interview that they both want to win, but also know that this is a very tough competition. If they lose again, it means that they will not be able to qualify for the Olympics. She was sad when she saw her players suffering so much. She felt guilty for failing to help her teammates.
That's competitive sports. Victory, everyone rejoices. Fail, everybody is sad. Such is the attraction of sports and the brutal competition. Ni Xiaolian wiped the tears on her face, looking aggrieved.
And Ni Xiaolian is sixty this year. No one knows how long she will be. No one knows how long her good fortune will last.
Ni Xiaolian glanced up, with tears in her eyes, a trace of regret and a hint of hope. She'll always fight for the game. It's not just her profession, it's her life's passion. She won't stop moving.
Granny Ni deserves our respect.
It's a shame that the Luxembourg women's football team didn't make it to the Paris Olympics. "What a pity!