Legend Sun Wen elected to CFA vice presidency to boost women's football

XIANGHE, China - China's women football aims at returning back to the world's top class as soon as possible, said legendary captain Sun Wen after her election to the Chinese Football Association (CFA) vice presidency here on Thursday.

"I have had lots of experience through the past decades, and I hope I can help develop Chinese women football better after assuming my new position," said the 46-year-old Sun, who was elected as one of the three CFA vice presidents, in an interview with Xinhua.

Sun who was voted as the FIFA Female Player of the Century in 2000, has been serving as director of CFA women's youth training department since January 2018.

China was once among the best in the women's football as Sun led her teammates to the runners-up position during the 1999 World Cup in the United States, where Sun was awarded the Golden Boot.

Although the 'Steel Roses' could never attain the feat again after Sun's retirement in 2003, it remains to be the priority for the Chinese women football to regain their first-class position in the world.

The CFA vice president Sun said that she is excited to be able to play an important role.

"To be honest, it's hard for me to shift from technical works which I am familiar with, to management duties as CFA vice president," Sun told Xinhua. "I must jump out of my comfort zone, and I'm never afraid of challenges as a professional."

"Against the tough problems, we must find the solution and exploit our professional knowhow to develop women football in a scientific way. And I'm calling for support from the public to encourage our girls to play football," Sun said.

"Our priority is to carry out our overall football reform plan and to implement related policies. I have confidence for the new CFA leadership," Sun added.