Coach Lang Ping discusses strategy with the US Olympic women's volleyball team during its match with Japan last Saturday August 9 2008. [China Daily]

Volleyball coach Lang Ping, one of China's most beloved sports figures, is back home for her third Olympics.

She won Olympic gold playing for China in 1984 and silver as China's coach in 1996.

This time, she will be sitting on the other side of the net as the coach of the US team, a post she took in 2005.

"My only wish is that the US team can have a great performance in my hometown," Lang said.

It was not an easy decision for the 47-year-former champion who enjoys Michael Jordan-like status in China. Although she has been coaching abroad for many years, a huge and heated public debate erupted in China over Lang's move to the US team. For some, her coaching of the national team of a foreign country was too much, especially for an Olympics held in her native city.

"If there had been too many people opposed to this decision I probably wouldn't have accepted the job," Lang said. "I didn't want to cause myself so much trouble."

Once she took the job, Lang Ping's magic touch worked, and the US team qualified for the Beijing Games by finishing third at the 2007 World Cup Volleyball in Japan.

Helped by returning veterans, Lang built the team into a serious medal contender for the Beijing Olympics. She took the team to the FIVB Grand Prix Finals in Japan last July, the last pre-Olympic event attended by the five best teams.

Like Qiao, Lang is capable of leading the US to victory over China. Both teams are in the same group, which means they will play each other at least once.

Lang seems to be relaxed about it all. "I believe fans here will be very proud of me because I am bringing a great team here. If the US team plays with others, I believe the Chinese spectators will cheer for us - and it (China) will be the second home field advantage for the US team."