Hangzhou, 18 Sep (Xinhua) -- The men's and women's volleyball competitions at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games are closely linked to the Olympic qualification rounds, and some Asian teams that will participate in these two events at the same time have already made choices and trade-offs in this "devil schedule," but the host Chinese team has obviously made preparations to answer these two "big questions" at the same time.
On September 17, the Chinese team players took a group photo after the game. On the same day, in the Paris Olympic Women's Volleyball Qualification Group A match held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, the Chinese team defeated the Mexico team 3-0. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Tao
The Hangzhou Asian Games will open on September 23, while the men's volleyball competition will first start on September 19 and continue until September 26. One of the reasons for this arrangement is that the men's volleyball qualification tournament for the Paris Olympics will start on September 30, and after the Asian Games journey, the Chinese team, Iran and Japan will participate in this event.
For the women's volleyball team, the Chinese team, the Japanese team, the South Korean team and the Thai team are currently participating in the Olympic qualification match, and the group A match of the Chinese team will not end until September 24. From September 30, the Asian Games will start again, and the connection cannot be described as close.
Due to the rhythm of the adjustment of competitive status, many Asian teams have reservations in their Asian Games lineups. Taking the Japanese women's volleyball team as an example, five players in its Asian Games lineup are also in the Olympic qualifying squad, but they are mainly second-tier players and are not currently responsible for heavy competition tasks. However, the Japanese women's volleyball team participating in the Asian Games has many players who have played in the international arena for many years, such as Haruyo Shimamura and Yuka Meguro, and their experience and competitive level have certain strength, and they are likely to be the most important opponents of the Chinese team.
In terms of men's volleyball, similar to the thinking of women's volleyball, the Japanese men's volleyball team also did not send the main team to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games, but used a group of second-tier players such as Daisho Nishiyama and Kenta Takanashi who are experienced in international competitions to build a system. Even so, the Japanese men's volleyball team is quite competitive among Asian teams.
However, the Iranian men's volleyball team, which won the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, is the main force this time, aiming to win three consecutive Asian Games championships in one fell swoop.
According to the men's and women's volleyball Asian Games list released by the Chinese Volleyball Association, the staffing of the Chinese team in the Asian Games is not much different from the lineup participating in the Olympic qualification round. It can be said that the Chinese team, as the host, is ready for continuous combat.
In terms of women's volleyball, the Chinese team sent four main attackers: Li Yingying, Wang Yunbi, Zhonghui and Wu Mengjie. Three secondary attackers: Yuan Xinyue, Wang Yuanyuan, and Gao Yi. Two respondents: Gong Xiangyu and Zheng Yixin. Two setters: Diao Linyu and Ding Xia. A free man: Wang Mengjie.
On September 17, Chinese player Yuan Xinyue (first from right) smashed the ball during a match. On the same day, in the Paris Olympic Women's Volleyball Qualification Group A match held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, the Chinese team defeated the Mexico team 3-0. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Bin
The above lineup is the essence of the current Chinese women's volleyball team, compared with the Olympic qualification match, only one deputy and one free man have been reduced. At present, the backbone players in each position in this lineup are first-class or even super-first-class existences in Asia. For the use of this lineup, head coach Cai Bin is also more handy, and in this year's Women's World Volleyball League, he led the team to win the runner-up.
At the Asian Games, the Chinese team is likely to have new attractions in the main attacking position, and in the case of continuous combat, will Cai Bin use newcomer Wu Mengjie more? How will she use the opportunity of the competition to prove herself? It will be a big suspense.
In the Asian Games, the Chinese women's volleyball team showed its best strength, and the strength of the squad sent by the main opponents was slightly weaker, and from the momentum, the Chinese team will inevitably strive for the championship. But the only and biggest uncertainty at the moment is how the players will recover and adjust in the short gap between Olympic qualification and Asian games. This also tests the wisdom of head coach Cai Bin.
The picture shows Cai Bin, the head coach of the Chinese women's volleyball team. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Tao
"It's not the time to talk about the Asian Games, we're all focused on the Olympic qualifiers at the moment, playing one by one." This is Cai Bin's response to how to adjust the team's state to cope with the Asian Games competition.
In the men's volleyball team, the Chinese team sent Zhang Jingyin, Yu Yuantai, Wang Bin, Dai Qingyao, Li Yongzhen, Peng Shikun, Wang Dongchen, Jiang Chuan, Zhang Guanhua, Yu Yaochen, Wang Hebin, Qu Zongshuai. This is also the essence of the current Chinese men's volleyball team.
On July 9, Chinese players celebrate scoring during a match. On the same day, in the 2023 World Men's Volleyball League Philippines tournament held in Pasay, Philippines, the Chinese team lost 1:3 to Canada. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Umali)
The Chinese team is in the same group stage as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. According to the current strength of the Chinese men's volleyball team and the lineup of other teams, the Chinese team is expected to face a certain impact after entering the knockout stage, and must go all out to stand on the stage of the semifinals and even the finals.
The Asian Games is just the beginning of the high-intensity challenges facing the Chinese men's volleyball team in the near future, how will this team adjust its state and move to Xi'an non-stop to compete in the men's volleyball qualification tournament of the Paris Olympics? Let's wait and see!