Chinese U23 men's national football team poses for group photo with fans after the U23 Asian Cup final on January 24. Photo: VCG

The Chinese men's national under-23 football team suffered a 4-0 defeat to Japan in the U23 Asian Cup final on Saturday. But the runners-up finish marked China's best-ever result in the tournament. On January 25, the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Football Association (CFA) issued congratulatory letters respectively, praising the team for its breakthrough and "extending warm congratulations and cordial greetings." The letters highlighted that the achievement was a "best-ever result in the tournament" and "reignited hope for the revitalization of Chinese football." 

The team's "outstanding performance has boosted the morale and vitality of Chinese football, serving as a strong impetus to reinforce confidence and determination in the revitalization of the sport." It has galvanized collective efforts and injected spiritual momentum into the promotion of the "three major ball sports" and the building of a leading sports nation, said China's sport authority in the letter. 

In its letter, the CFA said that Chinese men's national under-23 football team started as the fourth-seeded team in their group and fought fearlessly against formidable opponents, achieving a remarkable reversal of fortunes and rewriting history. With an outstanding defensive record of keeping clean sheets, they successfully advanced and proudly marched into the final. This marks "the first time in 22 years that a Chinese men's national team has reached the final of a major continental tournament, filling the entire nation with immense excitement and pride."

 The association also hailed the achievement as "a critical breakthrough by Chinese football as it forges ahead on its new journey," and called on that "all national teams at various levels should look to you as their role model, learning from your team spirit, fighting will, and professional dedication to strict tactical discipline."

Global Times