On June 29, the Chinese Volleyball Association announced the list of athletes participating in the women's volleyball event of the Paris Olympics on its official website. The 12 athletes are the main attackers Li Yingying, Zhu Ting, Zhang Changning, Wu Mengjie, Yuan Xinyue (captain), Wang Yuanyuan, Gao Yi, Diao Linyu and Ding Xia, Gong Xiangyu, Zheng Yixin and Wang Mengjie. The substitutes are the main attackers Zhuang Yushan. This is also the most high-profile session of the Chinese women's volleyball team since it went to the Olympics.
The main lineup with the old with the new
The Chinese women's volleyball team is on the list of the Paris Olympics, bringing together the elite players of the current domestic women's volleyball team. Among them, there are veterans like Zhu Ting and Ding Xia who have participated in two Olympic Games, backbones like Li Yingying and Wang Yuanyuan, and newcomers like Zhuang Yushan and Zheng Yixin.
The Chinese women's volleyball team continues to replace the old and the new in this Paris Olympic cycle. Under the leadership of the head coach of the Chinese women's volleyball team, Cai Bin, the main lineup of the new Chinese women's volleyball team has taken shape.
In the list of participants in the Olympic Games, there are Zhu Ting, Zhang Changning, Ding Xia, Yuan Xinyue, Gong Xiangyu and other veterans who participated in the two Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo. Among them, Zhu Ting is the captain of the women's volleyball team in the Tokyo Olympic cycle, and Yuan Xinyue is the captain of the Chinese women's volleyball team in the Paris Olympic cycle. In addition, Gong Xiangyu, Zhang Changning, and Ding Xia are not only key players in the multi-tactical system of the Chinese women's volleyball team, but also improve the overall depth of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
The Seven Fairies lineup is still the backbone
During the Paris Olympic cycle, Cai Bin took over the Chinese women's volleyball team and continued Lang Ping's guidance on the selection of new and old alternate materials from the previous term. With the formation of the main lineup of the "Seven Fairies", the Chinese women's volleyball team won the runner-up in the 2023 World League, achieving the best results since the competition. They will still be the backbone of the Chinese women's volleyball team in the Paris Olympics. Zhang Changning and Zhu Ting, who returned from injury, became strong reinforcements for the Seven Fairies lineup.
Li Yingying, Wang Yuanyuan, Diao Linyu and Wang Mengjie participated in a number of international competitions with the national team during the Paris Olympic cycle, accumulated rich experience, and grew into the backbone of the team. Li Yingying, Wang Yuanyuan, and Wang Mengjie have participated in the Tokyo Olympics, and they are still the main players in the Paris Olympic cycle, shouldering the heavy responsibility of attacking, blocking and defending in the rapid and changeable tactical system of the Chinese women's volleyball team. Diao Linyu ranked first in the setter list in the 2024 World Women's Volleyball League.
Zhu Ting, Zhang Changning, and Zhuang Yushan improved the depth of the women's volleyball team
This World League is also the Olympic qualifying tournament for the Chinese women's volleyball team. The Chinese women's volleyball team went all out in every game and finally qualified for the Olympics. On the other hand, the addition of Zhu Ting, Zhang Changning and Zheng Zhuang Yushan will enhance the tactical depth of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
For Zhu Ting, the mentality of competing in the Olympics this time is the most relaxed. After helping the Chinese women's volleyball team complete the World League Macau and Hong Kong matches, Zhu Ting completed the run-in with the team. In the interval between preparations for the Olympic Games, Zhu Ting continued to receive good news. Serie A club Conegliano officially announced that it will sign Zhu Ting in the new season. Zhu Ting will play in Serie A for the third consecutive season. In addition, Zhu Ting appeared at the graduation ceremony of Beijing Normal University, marking her successful graduation. At present, the Chinese women's volleyball team is fully preparing for the Olympic Games, and Zhu Ting is participating in the Olympic Games for the third time.
In this World League, Zhang Changning showed the value of veterans. The addition of new forces such as Wu Mengjie and Zhuang Yushan will also enhance the depth of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
During the World League, Wu Mengjie made many debuts and performed well. Zhuang Yushan played steadily for the first time for the national team in the World League Hong Kong against Turkey and Poland, two world-class powerhouses, and Zhuang Yushan served at a critical moment, showing excellent psychological quality and stable technical ability. In the Paris Olympics, the technical and tactical ability and vitality of the younger generation will be the greatest confidence of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Chu Peng
Editor/Xu Zhao