China’s Tan Jinzhuang – Exciting Prospect for the Future!

She injects dollops of energy in the China women’s team’s deep defence – in a side that is brimming with drag-flicking options with the likes of vastly experienced Gu Bingfeng (two-time Olympian), Ou Zixia (two-time Olympian) and Ma Ning, Tan Jinzhuang has been able to make her presence felt in the 2024-25 Pro League at Sydney.

Read Know Who Are the Top Men Hockey Club Champions Across the Globe

The 22-year-old talented drag-flicker and deep defender has clearly a stolen a march over her team-mates putting in key performances for the red-and-yellow skirts at the Sydney Olympic Park. She delivered when the team needed someone to stand up and be counted.

Tan scored a last-ditch goal to force their first leg Pro League tie against Australia into a shootout (2-2 in normal time) where they were unfortunate not to have the last laugh. A prodigious young talent, Tan who made her senior international debut against USA during the 2022-23 Pro League at Wellington (a game China won 4-1), was again the thick of action orchestrating China’s comeback bid after they trailed twice against Spain in their first leg not only helping her side to be on level terms but also churning out the final minute match-clincher.

Read Statistical Snapshot – 2024-25 Women Pro League

All four goals coming virtue set-pieces makes Tan the joint top goal-scorer alongside Yibbi Janssen and Freeke Moes. The youngster, who plays club hockey in China for Sichuan Club, learnt her initial hockey lessons at Dazhou Sports School before subsequently growing through the ranks. Tan played her part in China’s monumental silver-medal finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Read Olympic Silver Medalist China Would Look to Build on their Robust Pro League Start

Tan was one of the three Olympians (from the Paris campaign) to feature in the 2024 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, where she asserted herself in no uncertain terms emerging as the second top goal-scorer with 7 goals (behind India’s Deepika Sehrawat in China’s runners-up finish (with a second-string side). She scored a brace in China’s 15-0 win over Thailand as well as scored a brace in their 2-0 win over South Korea – the youngster even scored in the semifinal against Malaysia.

Read Kookaburras Game for Strong Pro League Start After Paris Olympic Disappointment

With 41 international caps under her belt, the number 35 wearing jersey player has showed that she has everything to grow into a player, who can serve Chinese hockey for a long time to come.