BEIJING (Reuters) -Zhao Yong was appointed coach of the Chinese women’s volleyball team on Thursday and tasked with taking the one-time powerhouse back to the Olympic podium in Los Angeles in 2028. Olympic gold medallists in Los Angeles in 1984 and again in 2004 and 2016, China finished fifth at last year’s Games in Paris […]
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Volleyball-Zhao charged with taking China’s women back to Olympic podium
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BEIJING (Reuters) -Zhao Yong was appointed coach of the Chinese women’s volleyball team on Thursday and tasked with taking the one-time powerhouse back to the Olympic podium in Los Angeles in 2028.
Olympic gold medallists in Los Angeles in 1984 and again in 2004 and 2016, China finished fifth at last year’s Games in Paris after being knocked out by Turkey in the quarter-finals.
“Zhao Yong demonstrates strong resilience under pressure, emphasizes discipline in training, and excels in team management,” Lai Yawen, head of volleyball at the General Administration of Sport, told Xinhua news agency.
“His competence, coaching experience, work ethic, and mental fortitude make him well-suited for the role of head coach of the Chinese women’s volleyball team.”
Former men’s international Zhao led China’s women to gold at the World University Games in 2023 and the girls team to the title in the first under-17 world championship in Peru last year. He replaces Cai Bin, who was sacked last month.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Peter Rutherford)