On the 16th, the Chinese women's volleyball team will sit at the home of Ningbo Beilun to start the qualification journey of the women's volleyball team for the Paris Olympic Games. From the 16th to the 24th, the Chinese women's volleyball team will play seven matches, and have played against many strong teams such as the Canadian women's volleyball team, the Netherlands women's volleyball team, and the Serbian women's volleyball team. According to the rules, the top two teams in the group will receive direct tickets to the Paris Olympics, and the Chinese women's volleyball team will also launch an attack towards this goal.
Screenshot of the official Weibo of the Chinese Volleyball Association
Judging from the schedule, the opponents of the Chinese women's volleyball team are easy first and then difficult. In the first three rounds against Ukraine, Mexico and the Czech Republic women's volleyball team, the Chinese team was even stronger. In this year's World Women's Volleyball League, the Chinese women's volleyball team also defeated Canada 3:0. In these four matches, the Chinese team is expected to win them all.
In the last three rounds, the Chinese team will face the strong Netherlands, Dominica and Serbian women's volleyball team, and the opponents will play in different styles. The Dutch players are generally tall, and the serve of the core of the team, Ma Lin, has caused a lot of trouble for the Chinese team in the World Women's Volleyball League. In the previously concluded European Women's Volleyball Championship, the Netherlands defeated the strong Italian team to win the third place in the absence of Marlene's injury. In this Olympic qualification match, Ma Lin returned from injury, and the Chinese women's volleyball team's passing and defense will face a greater test.
Data map: On June 30, local time, in the 2023 Women's World Volleyball League Suwon Station in South Korea, the Chinese team lost 2:3 to the Dominican team. The picture shows China's Li Yingying (front left) smashing the ball during the game.
The Dominican women's volleyball team has been impressive this season. They not only defeated the United States in the final of the 2023 CONCACAF Women's Volleyball Championship, successfully achieving three consecutive championships. According to media reports, on the 10th, the Dominican team has arrived in Beilun to prepare for the competition in advance. At present, they are expected to become the "dark horses" of this competition.
The last opponent of the Chinese women's volleyball team this time is Serbia. As a world powerhouse, the Serbian team is undoubtedly the biggest competitor of the Chinese women's volleyball team to win Olympic tickets. According to the list of participants announced by the opponent, Boskovic, Popovich and others are all listed. However, Zvikovic, who was named the "best setter in the world championship", was absent for some reason. Facing the Serbian team with an incomplete lineup, the Chinese women's volleyball team, which has home court advantage, may have a chance to win.
Image source: China Women's Volleyball Official Weibo
On the 12th, the Chinese women's volleyball team also announced the list of 14 participants. Compared with the previous Women's World Volleyball League roster, the personnel has been slightly adjusted. Wu Mengjie, a young player who performed well in the Universiade and Asian Championships, was selected, injecting fresh blood into the main offensive line of the Chinese women's volleyball team. Veteran Ding Xia is also on the list, and she has rich experience in the tournament and can organize more effective attacks for the Chinese women's volleyball team.
In July this year, the Chinese women's volleyball team won the runner-up of the Women's World Volleyball League. Coach Cai Bin once introduced that in the period after returning, the team's training intensity has continued to increase, and while carefully reviewing and summarizing every game and even every ball of the World Women's Volleyball League, they are also conducting refined preparation training. "Especially for the few opponents we will face in the Olympic qualification tournament, we must do the work carefully and study the opponents thoroughly." Cai Bin said.
After the Olympic qualification round, the Chinese women's volleyball team will rush to the Hangzhou Asian Games non-stop. The tight schedule also puts forward higher requirements for the physical fitness of the Chinese women's volleyball team. With two big exams just around the corner, hopefully the team that is still climbing the climb can perform at its best.