New coach looks to lead China back to glory

A new head coach, a new coaching team, and a new generation of players — China's women's volleyball team is preparing to charge toward the podium at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with "fresh blood", aiming to reinforce its dominance in Asia and maintain its status as a global powerhouse.

But, many challenges lie ahead for the new squad and its leadership.

On Thursday, the Chinese Volleyball Association officially announced the appointment of Zhao Yong as head coach of the national women's team. The 49-year-old replaces Cai Bin, and will lead a youthful team into the next Olympic cycle.

Olympic champion Yang Hao joins the coaching staff for the first time, while several U20 national youth team players — including Wang Aoqian, Yang Shuming and Zhang Zixuan — have received their first call-up to the senior national team.

"To meet the dual goals of preparing for the 2028 Olympics and revitalizing Chinese volleyball, we must show courage and determination, and complete the generational transition of the national team as early as possible," said Lai Yawen, director of the Volleyball Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China.

According to the center, Zhao was the leading recommendation out of more than ten candidates in a selection process guided by principles of openness and fairness. Experts and frontline coaches across the country were widely consulted.

Lai noted that, during the National Games qualifiers, the center held one-on-one discussions with volleyball veterans and head coaches from provincial teams. Most recommended Zhao for the top job.

"Zhao is a dedicated and energetic coach, with strong values, who is well-suited to carry forward the spirit of the women's volleyball team into a new era," Lai said.

Zhao began his coaching career in 2002 with the Liaoning men's youth team, took charge of the men's junior national team at 29, and became head coach of the Liaoning women's team at 30. In 2013, he led the Liaoning youth women's team to a silver medal at the National Games.

Over his many years of coaching in Liaoning, Zhao helped develop several top players, including Ding Xia and Yan Ni. The Liaoning women's team has long been one of China's traditional powerhouses.

Most recently, in the 2024-25 season, Liaoning defeated defending champion Tianjin to clinch third place in the Chinese Volleyball League.

In 2023, Zhao coached the China Women's B team at the Chengdu FISU World University Games, leading it to a dominant 3-0 victory over Japan in the final. That same year, he guided the team to a silver medal at the Asian Women's Volleyball Championship. Last year, he led the Chinese squad to victory at the FIVB Volleyball Girls'U17 World Championship.

Zhao said he felt honored by the appointment and deeply aware of the responsibility, as the Chinese women's volleyball team holds an unparalleled place in the hearts of the people, and carries the expectations and pride of countless fans.

"This honor and trust are both a motivation and a driving force for me. We will carry forward the spirit of the women's volleyball team, and make it our top priority to secure a spot at the 2028 Olympics," Zhao said.

The new coaching staff, led by Zhao, includes Olympic champion Yang Hao, along with experienced coaches Yuan Lingxi, Yu Fei and Zhang Chen. Lai noted that, beyond their professional strengths, the new team will place greater emphasis on development concept and team cohesion.

Zhao and Yang Hao have previously worked together — at the 2023 Chengdu Universiade, when she served as Zhao's assistant coach. Lai added that, since her retirement, Yang Hao has stayed on the frontlines as a coach. With a solid work ethic and strong character, she brings personal experience to her guidance of younger players, and serves as a bridge between the athletes and the head coach, Lai said.

In addition to established world champions, such as Li Yingying, Gong Xiangyu, Wang Yuanyuan and Wang Mengjie, the new roster features a number of national youth players under the age of 20 from the junior national team, signaling a strong commitment to nurturing young talent.

Zhao believes the team must be a mix of veterans, mid-career players and younger athletes. He said senior players set a strong example in mentoring the younger ones, while the mid-generation athletes need to shoulder more responsibility and take on leading roles.

"As for the younger players, I hope to give them more opportunities to showcase themselves on bigger stages," he said.

Zhao's predecessor, Cai, took over as head coach in early 2022. Under his leadership, the team won silver at the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and took gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games. At the Paris Olympics last year, China finished fifth.

Currently ranked fifth in the world, behind Italy, Brazil, the United States and Turkiye — and with Poland and Japan close behind — China is entering this new cycle as more of a challenger than a front-runner. To reclaim past glory, the team will need more players to rise to the big occasion.

The new-look Chinese women's volleyball team will make its debut under Zhao at the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League in June, followed by the Women's World Championship in Thailand this August.