NTNU-Jingmei Women’s Tug of War Team Shines at World Championships
The World Indoor Tug of War Championships are held once every two years. This year (2014), the games were held in Ireland, and the Chinese Taipei women’s team was made up of a group of students from the Department of Physical Education at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and Taipei Jingmei Girls High School. On February 22nd, the team took second place in the 540 kg world championship division and, on February 23rd, grabbed first place in the 500 kg world championship division. The team won two matches in a row, and, all together in the open club championships, earned three gold and three silver medals. Their accomplishments have brought glory to the people of Taiwan.
The Chinese Taipei women's team participated in 6 events at this year's world championships and open club championships. NTNU's President, Kuo-en Chang, and Director of Academic Affairs, Shao-hsi Chang, acted as the team captains. Guo Sheng, an alumnus of NTNU and teacher at Taipei Jingmei Girls High School, served as the coach. An open club championship gives the young participants more chances to compete and gain experience. The world championships are formal events. Each country is represented by its best athletes. Thus, coming away victorious is no easy task. In the open club championships, the Chinese Taipei women's team won first place in the 500 kg open division and second place in the 540 kg open division. The mixed men's and women's team took second place in the 600 kg open division. As for the world championships, the Chinese Taipei women's team won first place in the 500 kg division and second place in the 540 kg division, while the mixed team won first place in the 600 kg division.
9 of the 21 team members are students at Taipei Jingmei Girls High School and the rest are students from the Department of Physical Education at NTNU. The NTNU students who won the women’s 540 kg world championship event regularly get together for intense practice sessions, leaving their hands covered with calluses and blisters. After practices, team members even squat down together and wipe the floors.
However, after losing to their biggest rival, the team from Mainland China, in the 540 kg world championship division, the Chinese Taipei women’s team members pulled themselves together, wiped away their tears, and went on to win the 500 kg world championship event the following day. They got their gold medal revenge on the Chinese team by winning two crucial matches in a row.