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feature on Ma's success (7 August). In 1986, a Korean gymnast also tied for gold medal with his Chinese counterpart. Again, the latter was elaborately praised at the expense of the former (25 September). A similar case could be found in a soccer match report. China drew with India. The two goals scored by the Chinese side were described with meticulous details but the two goals by the Indian side were just passed by in a line or two (23 September, 1986).
Many a time, the victors of foreign nationalities were simply missed out in reports of specific events depicted in details. The focus of these articles was on Chinese performance and losses, but surprisingly, no information was given on who won the events (13 July, 1987; 24 September, 1986; 30 August, 1985). Sometimes, even when the foreign victors were given lengthy sketches, their win over Chinese athletes was not mentioned (men's high jump, 13 August, 1984). Even though their wins were described, they were brief and without much identification of their respective countries.
On the contrary, there were times when the press praised the successful foreign athletes or teams, though on a very small scale when compared to Chinese. For instance, Paklin's world record performance in high jump was said to exhibit the Russian strength in the event (5 September, 1985); Korean victories in individual events of the badminton tournament were said to demonstrate the Korean rise in badminton standard (4 October, 1986).
But more often, flattery was directed at individuals rather than other countries. A three-gold winning Japanese swimmer was sketched as a hardworking sportsman but unlike sketches on Chinese athletes, this article did not make any attribution of success to the Japanese swimming federation or the country (25 September, 1986). Two Russian and one Romanian women gymnasts were reported to be the idols of many local Japanese fans, but their nationalities could hardly be noticeable in the article (5 September, 1985).
When situations were found to be face-enhancing to others, negative portrayals were more prevalent than other positive portrayals. Among these could be the help of a third party element which made athletes or teams of other countries successful (draw of order, 11 July, 1987; 29 August, 1985; injury of opponent, 5 October, 1986).
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feature on Ma's success (7 August). In 1986, a Korean gymnast also tied for gold medal with his Chinese counterrpart. Again, the latter was elaborately praised at the expense of the former (25 September). A similar case could be found in a soccer match report. China drew with India. The two goals scored by the Chinese side were described with meticulous details but the two goals by the Indian side were just passed by in a line or two (23 September, 1986).
Many a time, the victors of foreign nationalities were simply missed out in reports of specific events depicted in details. The focus of these articles was on Chinese performance and losses, but surprisingly, no information was given on who won the events (13 July, 1987; 24 September, 1986; 30 August, 1985). Sometimes, even when the foreign victors were given lengthy sketches, their win over Chinese athletes was not mentioned (men's high jump, 13 August, 1984). Even though their wins were described, they were brief and without much identification of their respective countries.
On the contrary, there were times when the press praised the successful foreign athletes or teams, though on a very small scale when compared to Chinese. For instance, Paklin's world record performance in high jump was said to exhibit the Russian strength in the event (5 September, 1985); Korean victories in individual events of the badminton tournament were said to demonstrate the Korean rise in badminton standard (4 October, 1986).
But more often, flattery was directed at individuals rather than other countries. A three-gold winning Japanese swimmer was sketched as a hardworking sportsman but unlike sketches on Chinese athletes, this article did not make any attribution of success to the Japanese swimming federation or the country (25 September, 1986). Two Russian and one Romanian women gymnasts were reported to be the idols of many local Japanese fans, but their nationalities could hardly be noticeable in the article (5 September, 1985).
When situations were found to be face-enhancing to others, negative portrayals were more prevalent than other positive portrayals. Among these could be the help of a third party element which made athletes or teams of other countries successful (draw of order, 11 July, 1987; 29 August, 1985; injury of opponent, 5 October, 1986).
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