Bouncing back

Compared with individual sports, football, basketball and volleyball provide a tougher test of the progress made in youth development systems, professional leagues, training quality and team culture. They are also among the most closely watched sports in the 633 strategy.

Gao has said the revitalization of the three major ball sports "is the expectation of the people and also a key focus of the sports authorities".

He also singled out the women's volleyball team, and the hope it would "rebuild confidence at the Asian Games, regain the trust of people across the country, fight back at the Asian Games and take the lead in the revitalization of the three major ball sports".

China's women's volleyball team arrived in Nagoya after losing 3-2 to Thailand in the final of the Asian Championship and missing out on direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Player Wang Mengjie said: "Actually, I think the experience of failure can touch us more deeply. It allows this team to recognize what we need most right now, and I hope we can grow quickly."

Seeking to defend its Asian Games title, China beat Thailand 3-2 in the semifinal on Monday to reach the final, giving the team a timely boost as it works to rebuild confidence and develop greater cohesion within the squad.

China's men's basketball team provided a more immediate indication of the difficulty of the challenge ahead. After losing 77-97 to hosts Japan in the semifinal, China then fell 70-79 to Iran in the bronze-medal match on Sept 20, finishing fourth.

The Nagoya campaign exposed a number of issues that the team will need to analyze and address as it looks to improve its overall competitiveness.

"The level of basketball across Asia is improving. Teams in both East Asia and West Asia are making progress," head coach Guo Shiqiang said.

"But compared with European teams and the world's top teams, we still have some gaps in individual ability, game intensity and physical confrontations," he said.

China's women's basketball team is seeking a third consecutive Asian Games title, although star players Han Xu and Li Yueru are not on the roster. Nineteen-year-old Zhang Ziyu has attracted considerable attention, while the host Japan remains a major rival. China will look for a winning edge through team defense, outside shooting and tactical adjustments.

Results in football must likewise be viewed in the context of rebuilding and talent development.

China's women's team has retained core players including Wang Shuang, Zhang Linyan and Wu Haiyan while bringing in more young talent, using the Asian Games to develop tactical cohesion and assess newcomers ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

China's men's team is built around the squad that finished runner-up at this year's AFC U23 Asian Cup, supplemented by three older players — Wu Xi, Zhang Yuning and Zhu Chenjie.

After opening their campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, China drew 0-0 with Iran in their second group match.

The two matches provided an early test of how the young squad can translate individual ability into consistent team performance, while gaining valuable experience as the team continues its rebuilding process.

Gao previously summarized the development direction of the 633 sports as "consolidating strengths, expanding the competitive base, reinforcing the foundations and making breakthroughs in key areas".

The Nagoya Asian Games will offer a concentrated test of that approach in the coming weeks.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn