said. ``Girls are supposed to be shy and steady and not so active. ``My father was a real soccer fan, a former player, and he encouraged me to play. I started to play when I was 10 and started regular training when I was 13.''
Sun, who grew up to be a magician with a soccer ball at her feet, has become one of the finest players in the world. She tops this year's World Cup scoring with seven goals and will lead China into Saturday's championship game at the Rose Bowl against the United States.
``My father is very proud now,'' Sun, 26, said.
Despite the fact that not many young girls were encouraged to take up the game, China has built an extremely good team. To reach the final, they routed defending World Cup champion Norway 5-0 in the semifinals.
Sun, speaking through an interpreter, said the women's team has sparked great interest in China, with all its World Cup games televised there.
She believes the attitude that girls shouldn't play the game is changing, and a World Cup championship could make a dramatic difference.
``It is very, very important that we win now, for ourselves and for China,'' she said Tuesday after the Chinese squad held a brief workout at Pomona-Pitzer college.
China was host of the first Women's World Cup, in 1991, but the fans' interest there waned dramatically when the home team lost in the quarterfinals of the tournament won by the United States.
Sun has been impressed by the World Cup crowds this year, which have included many Chinese fans.
``Sometimes we felt like we were the home team,'' she said.
The Rose Bowl will have a sellout crowd approaching 90,000 for the final.
``It's amazing,'' Sun said. ``This is a very good place for women's soccer.''
Sun would consider playing in the United States if plans to begin a women's professional league in 2001 materialize.
``The best soccer can be played on a professional level,'' she said. ``The best environment for soccer now is in the U.S. So, yes.''
Sun, quick to smile and laugh, is a university student in her hometown of Shanghai. She writes poetry and loves to grab a mike and sing ``Candle in the Wind.''
Some of her poetry has been published in newspapers, she said, and she enjoys karaoke, listing ``Can You Feel the Love Tonight'' and ``My Heart Will Go On'' also among her favorite songs.
``I sing them in English,'' she said. The interpreter added, ``She is a very, very good singer in English.''
Those talents aside, U.S. coach Tony DiCicco is most concerned with Sun's skill with a soccer ball. He's considering marking her for the game, meaning he may assign one defender solely to stay on her.
``She's an all-around great player,'' DiCicco said. ``She has such good vision, can find the open spots and get the ball to her teammates. And now she's really finishing, scoring a lot.
``She's the focal point of their offense, and she's at the top of her game.'' [AP]
Coach: China Still the Better Team (1999-07-11)Five American, Seven Chinese Selected World Cup All-Stars (1999-07-09)China Soccer Star Has Many Talents (1999-07-07)Women Soccer World Cup: China Crushed Norway 5:0 to Enter Final (1999-07-05)Norway and China in action in Women's World Cup quarterfinals (1999-06-30)
