Chapter 181: Stay Tough
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was almost midday. The semi-final for the 100m sprint had begun.
Guohong Niu from Group B continued outperforming his opponents. He first place in his group, and moved on to the semi-final.
Sijie Yang also started getting settled into the race, and was visibly less nervous compared to his first race. He performed with ease. So far, it was difficult to judge who was better between Sijie Yang and Guohong Niu. Sijie Yang's super A-level talent made it easy for him to beat out the competition.
There had actually been a few excellent opponents in Sijie Yang's group. However, none of them were skilled enough to threaten him. He was first place in his group, and easily moved on to the semi-final.
Meanwhile, Group E was finally preparing to race. It was time for Xiaotian Xin to step up to the plate and face his most powerful opponent, Yue Zhao!
Xiaotian Xin couldn't help but look at Yue Zhao, who was lane away on the running track from him. Dai Li had already told him that Yue Zhao was the real king of the national team. His strength was so powerful that Xiaotian Xin would never have a chance of beating him unless he tried his best.
I didn't expect that I would have to use all my strength in only the semi-final! Xiaotian Xin thought to himself secretly.
Xiaotian Xin didn't know that Dai Li hadn't told him the truth that even if he used all his strength, he wouldn't be able to beat Yue Zhao. The reason why Dai Li did that was because he wanted to leave hope to Xiaotian Xin in case he got scared.
Dai Li's cheering voice echoed to Xiaotian Xin's ears.
"Go for it, Xiaotian Xin!" Dai Li raised his voice. He had used his morale-boosting book to increase Xiaotian Xin's courage!
Coach Li has taught me so many things over the last three months. I improved so much that I'm no longer the person I was before! I must win this competition! I will!
Xiaotian Xin got ready to run.
At the sound of the gun, he darted off like an arrow that had left its bow string.
Yue Zhao's attitude had changed since the first round. He took off as soon as he heard the shot. He was just as good as Xiaotian Xin.
I'm in good condition. I have to keep moving! Xiaotian Xin felt like his body was full of power. He knew that he was already in good condition in the race.
I should win. I will! Xiaotian Xin then saw someone passing him out of the corner of his eye.
That's Yue Zhao! He passed me! Xiaotian Xin suddenly felt nervous.
I need to run faster than him. Xiaotian Xin gave it everything he could, but his speed didn't change much. He had reached his limit.
This was a characteristic of many Asians. Many lacked endurance, especially when it came to the second half of a race.
Yue Zhao is too good. I feel like he is as fast as Guohong Niu. I can never catch up! Although the race hadn't ended yet, Xiaotian Xin already knew that he would lose to Yue Zhao.
…
The finish line was right in front of him. Yue Zhao leaned forward and crossed the finish line.
He had finished in first place!
Yue Zhao slowed down and clenched his fist. He pounded his chest in excitement.
I don't care if you are the coach of the Tsinghua University team; I'm here to beat the National Team! Yue Zhao stared at Xiaotian Xin.
Coach Wu stood next to the track, smiling in relief.
He finally showed his true ability. Maybe he wouldn't have tried his best if his opponent did not have a coach from the National Team! Coach Wu looked in Dai Li's direction, only to find that he looked very calm.
This young coach is acting quite cool! No wonder he works for the National Team, Coach Wu thought.
The reason Dai Li looked so calm was that he had already expected this result. Xiaotian Xin was much less competitive than Yue Zhao. As long as Yue Zhao performed normally, it would have been very difficult for Xiaotian Xin to win.
Xiaotian Xin walked off the track looking very upset. Dai Li comforted him. Although he had lost to Yue Zhao, he had still made it to the semi-final that would be held in the afternoon as second place in his group.
It didn't take very long for the committee to divide the groups.
Sijie Yang is in Group A; Xiaotian Xin will be in Group B. Guohong Niu and Yue Zhao were both put in Group D! It seems like the committee wants them to compete on purpose now! Dai Li looked at the groups and found out that outside of Guohong Niu and Yue Zhao, all the other athletes in group D were very average. He understood what the committee was trying to do right away.
Guohong Niu and Yue Zhao were the two athletes that would be competing for the championship. The competition between them was obviously the focus of the entire event. The organizers of the competition definitely wanted as much attention as possible on this matchup; that was why they had put Guohong Niu and Yue Zhao together in the same group. They wanted them to compete in the semi-final.
Considering their abilities, it would be no problem for them to make it to the final. Once they did, it would mean that their race would come in the final round.
The reason the organizers had scheduled them to compete against each other early was to make the race more attractive to the audience, as they would have to compete twice instead of once.
It was similar to the NBA playoffs. The last thing that the league wanted to see was some team beaten easily without any suspense; that scenario had no surprise nor attraction. The less games they played, the less the league could earn on advertisements.
The organizer is such a bxtch! Dai Li said to himself. As a coach, he didn't want Guohong Niu to face Yue Zhao. That would only add external pressure to his athlete.
At 2PM in the afternoon, the first competition was the 100m sprint semi-final.
Sijie Yang, who had come to the stage first in Group A, kept getting better and better. Even though it was the semi-final, he still outran all his competitors.
In Group B, Xiaotian Xin faced a very competitive athlete; the two had almost crossed the finish line together. After the judges carefully reviewed the finish, they decided that Xiaotian Xin had finished in first place. He had made it to the final successfully along with Sijie Xiu.
The real competition, however, would be in Group D between Guohong Niu and Yue Zhao.
…
Everyone looked very serious as they stood at the starting line. They could feel each other's competitiveness.
Yue Zhao knew that Guohong Niu was the best athlete in Tsinghua University, and that he had even been invited to join the National Team. He knew that Guohong Niu was the only obstacle standing between him and the gold medal.
Guohong Niu also knew that Yue Zhao had been the "brave warrior" on the National Team. Although he had retired because of his injury, and hadn't taken part in any competitions in the last two years, he was still very competitive. As the saying went, the camel who suffered from hunger was still bigger than the horse. This was obvious from the fact that he had beaten Xiaotian Xin easily.
They were all here for the championship, and they all knew that the only way that they could become champion was to beat everyone else.
At the sound of the starting gun firing, they took off together and began to speed up at the same time.
Guohong Niu and Yue Zhao are running at almost the exact same speed! All the people looked at the running track and hoped the two athletes could make it clear who would win. However, they remained neck and neck for almost the entire race.
Guohong Niu had used all his strength because he did not want to lose to Yue Zhao. Yue Zhao did not want to lose either, so he began running faster.
Although it seemed that the two were running at the same pace, the difference between in speed were quite visible.
Yue Zhao is quicker. Guohong Niu is going to lose! Dai Li realized immediately.
As Guohong Niu's coach, Dai Li knew everything about him. It was obvious to him that Guohong Niu had already done everything he could have.
Yue Zhao, on the other hand, still had some strength left to give. It might not have had much of an influence in this short a time, but it would for sure make a big difference in the last twenty meters.
Dai Li's judgement was quite precise. Yue Zhao had already been leading a bit when they entered the last twenty meters.By the time the two athletes reached the last ten meters, Yue Zhao was already leading by half a step.
Right before they had reached the finish line, Yue Zhao was ahead of Guohong Niu by more than half a step. Both of them extended their heads in an attempt to finish faster than the other, but Yue Zhao was one step quicker. He was the first to reach the finish line.
I won! Yue Zhao raised his arms in celebration when he crossed the finish line. He couldn't help but scream. Guohong Niu was in the background, an upset expression on his face.
In the previous heat, Xiaotian Xin had lost his race against Yue Zhao, and now Guohong Niu had lost his. Tsinghua University had now lost two consecutive races.
Yue Zhao felt brand new.