A few days ago, Lang Ping, the legendary coach of the Chinese women's volleyball team, forwarded an interview video with Zhu Ting 5 years ago on social platforms, accompanied by only the label of "proud protégé". This seemingly ordinary move immediately caused an uproar on the Internet, and there was a tendency to "break the earth". Fans have speculated that this is Lang Ping's future layout for the Chinese women's volleyball team, indicating that Zhu Ting is likely to return to the national team; Some comments also pointed out that Lang Ping's move was intended to "recall" the main force of the women's volleyball team in the current predicament, hoping to revive the former glory of the Chinese women's volleyball team.
As the most successful head coach in the history of the Chinese women's volleyball team, the relationship between Lang Ping and Zhu Ting's mentor and protégé should not be underestimated. In fact, the word "proud protégé" attached by Lang Ping at the end of the video is the biggest highlight of this repost. In the interview video 5 years ago, the young Zhu Ting gushed about how she gradually grew up under Lang Ping's careful cultivation, and finally became a blockbuster. Now, Lang Ping's guidance is undoubtedly telling Zhu Ting: You are my most proud protégé, and I am very much looking forward to your new brilliance.
So, what does it mean for Lang Ping to name Zhu Ting? Is she announcing to the outside world that there are important personnel arrangements and deployments?
1. Zhu Ting's return to the national team is in sight
In fact, in the recently unveiled Chinese Women's Volleyball League, Zhu Ting, who was in the Shanghai team, performed eye-catchingly, led the team to win many times, and was recently selected for the San Diego training camp. It can be said that Zhu Ting, whose strength and state are getting closer to the peak, is the best choice to return to the national team.
Lang Ping's roll call undoubtedly added a decisive external impetus to Zhu Ting's return to the national team. After all, in the history of the Chinese women's volleyball team, no coach has ever sung the horn of the Chinese women's volleyball team like Lang Ping. Since Lang Ping first became the coach of the national team, she has implemented the system in the team, that is, the tactical idea of "quick multi-point comparison", and introduced a large number of foreign players. Under the dual-coach system of her combination, the Chinese women's volleyball team achieved a leap from scratch and finally won the first gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
It can be said that it is under the cultivation of Lang Ping that the Chinese women's volleyball team has achieved a brilliant breakthrough from following to leading. Zhu Ting, as Lang Ping's last protégé, grew up under Lang Ping's careful training from the youth team to the national team for four years. She knows that Lang Ping's roll call is destined to have a profound impact on herself, and even her chance to return to the national team.
Compared with the current main team of the women's volleyball team, Zhu Ting's experience, strength and determination in the competition are beyond doubt. She has led the team to win the bronze medal at the London Olympics, and has made many contributions to the World Championships and World Cups, and has the most extensive experience in major competitions. In today's Chinese women's volleyball team, there is an urgent need for such a super main attacker with stable output. Therefore, Zhu Ting's return to the national team has become an inevitable trend, and she will surely become the biggest hope for winning the Paris Olympics.
Second, will Lang Ping go out of the mountain again?
Of course, before Zhu Ting officially returns, we also have to consider such a question: Does Lang Ping's official announcement of "important decision" mean that she will coach the national team again?
Come to think of it, this is also a bold speculation. After all, after a lapse of 6 years, Lang Ping's coaching whip once again drove this "former dream team" to restart the glory of the Chinese women's volleyball team, which will also be a dream picture for fans. In fact, at the Rio Olympics, Lang Ping personally commanded, but unfortunately returned in vain.
There is no doubt that the style of the Chinese women's volleyball team in the Lang Ping era is difficult to reach in today's version. The women's volleyball elite of that era not only had comprehensive skills, but also had extraordinary fighting spirit and hard work, and the legend of the Chinese women's volleyball team they and Lang Ping jointly weaved has been talked about so far.
Now, when Zhu Ting's return to the national team has become the general trend, will Lang Ping also end her interview career and officially announce her comeback? Once she returns, will she continue to coach until the 2024 Paris Olympics? After all, after the defeat in the Battle of Rio, Lang Ping has always regarded the Chinese women's volleyball team as an unfinished business. If the Chinese women's volleyball team loses again in this Olympic Games, Lang Ping may feel regretful.
Compared with the current coach Cai Bin, Lang Ping's iron fist and rigorous style are undoubtedly more popular and admired by players. Her charming combination with veterans such as Zhu Ting, Zhang Changning, and Zou Yuchen is bound to bring the Chinese women's volleyball team back on track. Of course, we will also look forward to the interaction between Lang Ping and rookies Li Yingying, Yuan Xinyue, Zhang Chenle, etc. After all, this will be a great opportunity for the women's volleyball team to pass on.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Chinese women's volleyball team missed the medal. The team staged a transition between the old and the new, but the already highly anticipated rookie was ultimately unable to do so. In fact, today's women's volleyball team does carry a heavy historical burden and pressure of expectations. In the face of powerful traditional strong teams such as the United States, Serbia, and Brazil, as well as the rapidly rising Italian team, the Chinese team must beware of sticking to the old ways and failing to implement tactics, otherwise it will be difficult to escape a new round of blood change. Therefore, in the process of preparing for the Paris Olympic Games, whether it is the replacement of the old or the new, or the tactical alternative, the head coach must come up with real materials and propose a systematic response plan. Zhu Ting's return can undoubtedly bring positive effects, but it should never be an excuse for the coaching staff to stagnate.
In the context of Zhu Ting's return to the national team and Lang Ping's comeback, we have reason to be positive and optimistic about the Chinese women's volleyball team's trip to Paris. After all, the reunion of some of the most historic stalwarts is sure to boost morale, and they will have strong chemistry with the team's up-and-comers. This may be an opportunity for the Chinese women's volleyball team to return to glory and set off a new round of climax.
In the process of preparing for the Paris Olympics, we will continue to pay attention to the personnel deployment of Lang Ping and the coaching staff, as well as the timetable for Zhu Ting's official return. At the same time, the form of the rising stars will also be the focus of our continued follow-up. Everything is progressing in an orderly manner, let us wait and see a new chapter of the Chinese women's volleyball team marching towards the peak.