At the departure ceremony of the new season of the Tianjin women's volleyball team, the 32-year-old world champion Yao Di returned. Yao Di was rumored to be retiring, but now she is back to continue competing. However, Yao Di's role in the new season has changed, she stepped down as captain, and Li Yingying became the new captain. Yao Di is no longer the main setter, Meng Dou was promoted to the main setter, and Yao Di served as a substitute setter. Judging from this arrangement, Yao Di is gradually fading out of his identity as an athlete and preparing for retirement and transformation.
Yao Di used to be the face of the Chinese women's volleyball team and was known as the most beautiful setter. She became famous very early, entered the national junior team in 2008 and became the captain of the national junior team. In the 2011 World Youth Championships, Yao Di helped the national youth women's volleyball team win the bronze medal, and she was selected for the best team. In the 2013 U23 World Championships, Yao Di led the team as the captain and won the championship with a record of 7 wins, she won the MVP honor, and was selected for the best team.
It is a pity that Yao Di did not get the opportunity to compete in the Rio Olympics and missed the glory of Olympic champion. However, in the Tokyo Olympic cycle, the setter of the Chinese women's volleyball team changed blood, and after Wei Qiuyue retired, Yao Di became a substitute setter under Lang Ping. In the 2019 Women's Volleyball World Cup, Yao Di helped the Chinese women's volleyball team win the championship, and she had the title of world champion. It's a pity that in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the Chinese women's volleyball team suffered a dismal defeat and did not break through from the group stage. Yao Di faded out of the national team.
However, Yao Di's performance in the Tianjin women's volleyball team is very good, and even last season, Yao Di was the best setter in the league. She helped the Tianjin women's volleyball team win the 16th championship in league history and ranked first in the setter list. Yao Di has dominated the league's best setter position over the years, but unfortunately she has not been included in the national team during the Paris Olympic cycle.
A new Olympic cycle is coming, but Yao Di is already 32 years old. At this age, women's volleyball players undoubtedly have to think about their life after retirement. Yao Di also went to Italy to play abroad after last season, and her volleyball career was actually successful enough. has the status of a world champion and is one of the merits of the Tianjin women's volleyball dynasty, Yao Di should be able to get a good retirement placement.
From the current point of view, Yao Di still needs to stand on the last shift, which should be the new season of the league and next year's National Games. The 32-year-old Yao Di did not play in the previous national championships and the Ironman Cup warm-up match, and appeared at the departure ceremony and looked a little thinner.
This good-looking beauty setter needs to adapt to a new role, and although the Tianjin women's volleyball team does not have Yuan Xinyue and Vargas in the new season, it is still strong and is the favorite to win the championship.