Chinese women's volleyball team looks to rejuvenate
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E-mail Xinhua, September 7, 2015
The Chinese women's volleyball team is on the road to a great rejuvenation after their emphatic fourth World Cup victory.
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China's coach Lang Ping (C, front) celebrates with players during the awarding ceremony of 2015 Women's Volleyball World Cup in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 6, 2015. China beat Japan in the final by 3-1 and claimed the title of the event. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) |
The triumph is also their first major title in 11 years after the Chinese team won at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
After beating the hosts Japan 3-1 in the last match for the World Cup title on Sunday, China not only won a direct ticket to next year's Rio Games, but also a brighter future.
Once a world superpower in women's volleyball, China has been experiencing ups and downs in recent years. The retirement of the golden generation who won at Athens even led to a period of crisis as the newcomers never felt comfortable taking up guns from their predecessors.
The inexperienced team finished a remote 10th in 2010 world championships, the worst result since 1974; then finished 5th at the 2012 London Games.
Jenny Lang Ping, known as "Iron Hammer" who led the Chinese to the 1981 and 1985 World Cup titles as a player, took over as head coach in 2013 and brought in a fresh air using more young players boldly.
Lang, a world famous spiker while playing, also ushered in a competitive system in national team as no player can guarantee a regular place in the starting lineup.
Zhu Ting, Yuan Xinyue, Hui Ruoqi, Lin Li, Shen Jingsi and other young stars got more chances of training and playing for the national team, but all of them have to fight for the starting places.
Before going to Japan, starters Yang Fangxu and Hui Ruoqi were both sidelined by injuries, bringing shadow to the team's World Cup campaign, but on back of two years' buildup, Lang quickly found proper replacements and had the Japan job done perfectly.
History repeats itself. Former China coach Chen Zhonghe took charge at the team and won the World Cup title in 2003 before leading the team to Athens Games win in 2004.
Lang and her team now have a chance of repeating the feat in next year's Olympic Games.
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