Hockey in China

Chinese hockey operates on a unique state-driven model. At provincial level, sports schools select talent from primary school onwards, after which promising players move on to academies for full-time training combined with education. The top reaches the national teams in Beijing. The National Games, held every four years, function as an internal championship and selection mechanism in which provinces fight for honour, sponsors and talent retention.

What structurally sets China apart is state funding. Players are professional athletes who receive a salary throughout their sporting career, with bonuses for medals and titles. The result is an almost inexhaustible talent pool. Where the Netherlands can rely on a professional club competition, China can rely on a state apparatus that channels thousands of young players towards the absolute top.

Since the appointment of Alyson Annan in May 2022, the women's team has undergone a metamorphosis. The Australian coach, former Netherlands head coach and an Olympic champion as a player, combines Chinese work ethic with the tactical autonomy of the Northern European school. Her philosophy moved the team from a top-down command structure to player empowerment. Annan builds on the foundation laid by Kim Chang-back, the Korean coach who led China to Olympic silver between 2000 and 2008, but replaced the bleed mentality with a culture of confidence and joy in the game.