Recounting the day China made history

– On 16 November, 1981, millions of people across China crowded around radios and televisions with flickering signals for a women’s volleyball match whose significance went far beyond sport.

Firecrackers echoed into the night and many were left tearyeyed with joy as China beat Japan over five thrilling sets in Osaka to become World Cup champions for the first time.

The victory, over their hated wartime rivals and at a time when China rarely enjoyed sporting success outside of table tennis, made the women’s volleyball team the pride of the nation.

It was also painted as symbolic at a time when China was embarking on the “opening-up” reforms of Deng Xiaoping that would ultimately usher in a period of unprecedented economic growth.

Bai Guosheng, who was 19 and had just entered a sports institute in the north-eastern city of Tianjin, remembers 60 or 70 others squeezed around a colour television, then a rare object in China.

Bai remembers the passion, the exuberant television commentary and how the viewers cheered every point.

The television feed would often cut out, presenting the words “Faulty signal, back in a moment”.

But the students and budding athletes could see enough to know that China, inspired by players Sun Jinfang and “Iron Hammer” Lang Ping – now coach of China’s team – had made history.

That they beat Japan made it all the sweeter.

“When I think of it now I still feel very emotional,” said Bai, who is now curator of Tianjin Sports Museum. – AFP