Unlike most adolescent girls in Taiwan who are preoccupied with their appearance, relationships and all kinds of typical teenage issues, the 14-member tug of war team at Jingmei Girls’ Senior High School in Taipei City is a completely different breed that has taken the global sporting arena by storm. The squad’s winning records in recent years have shown what Herculean effort and perseverance it takes to become true world champions in one of the most strenuous of all sports.
Established in 1994, the team burst onto the international scene in 2000, winning their first title at the Asian Cup Tug of War Championships in the junior category. From 2004 to 2011, Jingmei dominated the annual national competitions until its winning streak was stopped by Taichung City’s Dali Senior High School in 2012.
Unfortunately for the team, it was prevented from taking part in international competitions during most of its winning streak, because at the time only those aged 18 or above were allowed to compete. “Even though we won all those titles at home, we were never given an opportunity to prove ourselves to the rest of the world. It was really frustrating,” said Kuo Sheng, Jingmei coach since 2003 and a former member of the Chinese Taipei men’s tug of war national team.
The team’s big break came in 2009, when the Tug of War International Federation changed its eligibility rules, a surprising turn of events that has enabled Jingmei to establish itself as a worthy world champion since 2010, according to Kuo.
Under Kuo’s guidance, the team upset its mainland Chinese rival to crown in the 540-kilogram division at the biennial TWIF Indoor World Championship held in March 2010 in Italy. One month later, the squad beat the Mongolians to win their second title of the year at the Asian Tug of War Championship. The tuggers finished the year with a bang at the TWIF Outdoor Championship held in Pretoria, South Africa, by dethroning their formidable Swedish opponents, who had won the tournament five times in a row before then.
School Principal Lin Li-hwa, who was in Pretoria to root for her school’s team, said she had only expected her students to get the bronze medal. “The coach told me not to get my hopes up because our pullers had practiced for the outdoor event for only five months.” No Asian team had ever won the championship before, and the odds were definitely against the Taiwan pullers, she added.
“At the tournament’s opening ceremony, most of the audience had no idea where Chinese Taipei was,” Lin recalled. But as the underdog team continued its Cinderella run, the South Africans began to appreciate the brilliant performances of the Taiwanese youngsters. “At the final face-off, the entire crowd was rallying for us. I truly believe we accomplished a great promotional campaign for Taiwan.”
These achievements are the result of years of arduous effort that only the toughest contenders can deliver, Kuo said. While all athletes need to undergo rigorous training, “tug of war is a particularly demanding sport that requires exceptional physical and psychological endurance,” he pointed out.
And unlike basketball or volleyball players, who get immediate satisfaction from shooting hoops or spiking the ball, tuggers receive no feedback from the rope or the black iron weights that they lift in their daily practice. “Rope pulling is actually a rather monotonous sport, and you have to be able to cope with the boredom to carry on the training.”
For better management, all team members are required to live in the campus dormitory. “Their daily routine begins with a weight training session from 7:00 to 7:50 in the morning,” Kuo said. After that, all members have to attend regular classes like the rest of their fellow students until school is over at 17:00. The evening training starts at 18:00 and lasts for three hours. Then comes study time. “These girls hardly have any time of their own,” he said.
In addition to their demanding schedule, these teenagers, in the full bloom of their youth, have to follow a strict diet that keeps their weight at a healthy level, according to the coach. “What these young ladies are going through is amazing. You really have to tip your hat to them for their perseverance and discipline,” he said.
For most team members, the pains and physical fatigue are not the most difficult part of their tough practice schedule. “You won’t feel the pains if your hands are covered with calluses,” said Chen Tzi-jun, one of the tuggers. To team captain Susan Huang, the most challenging task is dealing with the frustration when one is in a slump. “Our team is like a big family and we really appreciate the team spirit, which is what keeps us going day in and day out.”
These students’ backgrounds are another reason that makes them so special. According to the principal, the majority of Jingmei tuggers come from disadvantaged families, which is the major reason they can endure such a challenging school life. “For many of the students, joining the team may be their best chance of continuing their education and shaking off poverty,” Lin said.
The principal explained that members of ROC national teams of certain sports that win medals in international competitions can attend college without having to take the grueling university entrance exams. Representing the government’s recognition of the contribution made by athletes, this rule also ensures that the most talented among them will be willing to dedicate themselves to winning glory for the country.
While tug of war is not among these sports, Lin believes her students deserve the same recognition and preferential treatment. After persistent negotiations by Lin and Kuo with authorities, eight pullers from the 2010 team are now pursuing their college education at National Taiwan Normal University to train as physical education teachers.
The college students will soon join hands with the current Jingmei squad to defend their TWIF Outdoor Tug of War Championship title slated for September in Switzerland. “If we win again, the name of Chinese Taipei will be carved on the championship trophy and we will become a part of the TWIF record,” Lin added.
Compared with baseball, basketball and swimming, Kuo said, rope pulling is still not a popular sport in Taiwan. But given the national teams’ exceptional performances at various international competitions over the years, the coach believes women’s tug of war deserves more attention from both the general public and the government, and should be seriously considered by the Sports Affairs Council for strategic promotion.
But before that happens, Kuo has to scout for new talent to keep his team competitive. Ironically, because of the Jingmei squad’s success, many schools around the country have begun to assemble their own teams, thus making it even more difficult for Jingmei to recruit new blood.
Both Lin and Kuo said they feel a heavy sense of responsibility to carry on this sporting tradition, and are pulling out all the stops to cultivate the team and make arrangements for the athletes’ career development. “I hope all Jingmei graduates can learn to appreciate the spirit behind tug of war, which is to never let go until your dream comes true,” Lin said. (HZW)
Write to Meg Chang at sfchang@mail.mofa.gov.tw