Wristy business as Zhu spikes hope of return

Team China superstar posts positive update on her recovery from surgery

Zhu Ting has given fans hope she will return to boost Team China's fortunes in the near future after delivering a positive update on her recovery from wrist surgery.

After several months of silence, Zhu on Wednesday posted four pictures of her right wrist on Weibo to illustrate a timeline of her recovery, accompanied by the message: "From surgery to plaster cast to big wrist guard and now smaller wrist guard. I'm focusing on recovering and I can feel the progress that I have made."

Zhu has been out of the spotlight since participating in the torch relay for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in February, with Wednesday's update indicating that her recovery from surgery is progressing well.

Zhu hurt her right wrist back in 2017. When the problem flared up again two years later, she initially chose a conservative program of treatment as she prepared for the Tokyo Olympics.

However, she struggled to find her best form at the Games, and bravely played through the pain as defending champion Team China failed to make it beyond the group stage in Japan.

The shock exit was China's worst performance in the Olympic women's volleyball tournament since its debut at the 1984 Games.

The disappointing Tokyo 2020 campaign led to the resignation of legendary coach Lang Ping and marked the lowest point of Zhu's glittering career.

With the injury still proving troublesome, Zhu spent most of her time warming the bench for Henan province at the National Games last September.

So, Wednesday's pictures undoubtedly cheered fans who were concerned that Zhu might struggle to regain the spiking power that has helped her claim all of volleyball's top honors, including the Rio Olympics MVP award.

"Volleyball players have really high demands on their wrists compared to most people. So we need to be very cautious, and find experienced therapists and surgery plans. Also given the pandemic, there are many more things to be considered," Zhu told Xinhua.

"My plan is to play another two Olympic Games. This is the expectation on myself and my attitude as a professional player.

"Many people have asked me if I will retire or start a career somewhere else given my injuries. Some people have seen me coach younger players, so they wondered if I will continue my playing career.

"I think I can play and teach younger players at the same time. I love volleyball and I would like to keep playing. Given the right circumstances, I will continue to play and I will keep fighting for my future goals."

In February, Chinese volleyball icon Cai Bin was appointed the new head coach of the women's national team.

He is eagerly awaiting Zhu's return but also looking forward to discovering new talent as the national team looks to the future.

"Zhu Ting is very talented, and you don't find a player like Zhu easily. She is still recovering. And if Team China can find and nurture more players like her, then the team can have deeper and more sustainable development," said Cai.

"The new Chinese women's volleyball team will be more united. I will give more chances to younger players and give them more challenges－but this doesn't mean there is less hope. I also plan to level up the team's fighting spirit and encourage them to have better performances.

"Our short-term goal is to win the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou this summer. After that, the time before the Paris Olympics is limited, so we need to prepare for better results."