Image source: Visual China

BEIJING, February 7 (TMTPOST) — China claimed triumphant victory in the final of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday, beating South Korea at 3-2 and winning the championship for the 9th time.

The final game was tough for China women's national football team. The team was two goals behind South Korea team after the first half of the match and turned the tide by scoring two goals at only five minutes prior to the end of the second half. China beat South Korea by one goal margin at the end and won its 9th title following its 8th championship in 2006.

China dairy giant Mengniu announced on Weibo on Sunday night that it will give a million-dollar cash reward to the women's national football team for their hard work and achievement. On Monday, Chinese e-commerce giant’s fintech arm Alipay jumped on the bandwagon by announcing on Weibo that it has raised 13 million yuan to support the women’s football team and will reward the athletes 10 million yuan and coach Shui Qingxia three million yuan.

It is commonly accepted among Chinese soccer fans that soccer has always been a weak spot for China. The men’s football team had failed in the pursuit of qualification to the FIFA 2022 World Cup on Lunar New Year’s Day, losing to Japan by 0:2 and to Vietnam by 1:3. Chinese soccer fans would often mock the China men’s football team by using it as an analogy of incompetence.

The success of China women’s national football team at AFC Women’s Asian Cup came as a boost to China’s national pride. Countless soccer fans shed tears at the news and celebrated the team’s victory on social media. Some netizens have called for a salary raise and more attention for the China women’s national football team as they shatter gender stereotypes and claim great achievements for the country.