Beijing, China, March 6, 2017 – China’s General Administration of Sport, through its volleyball department director Li Quanqiang, announced on Monday that the organisation is looking for a foreign coach to lead China's men’s national team in their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games campaign.
Li expressed the hope that both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams, and beach volleyball teams will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He vowed to make big changes in the coming years by making reforms in the men’s volleyball programme, after missing qualification for the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“The search for a high-level foreign coach is ongoing," Li said. “We will also expand the domestic volleyball league by adding more qualified teams. With more professional players, the national teams will have more choices.”
Meanwhile, Li also highlighted the importance of sustaining the women’s volleyball programme, following their gold medal triumph at Rio 2016.
One of the most vital agents in the team, deputy volleyball director and assistant coach Lai Yawen, supports Li’s plan to sustain the team’s development by going back to the drawing board.
“After the girls stepped down from the top podium in Rio, they need to start from scratch, as more powerful rivals will show up at Tokyo 2020,” Lai said.
China are looking ahead to Tokyo 2020 with a lot of wisdom and sensibility to achieve their fourth gold medal victory.
Rio 2016 medallist setter Ding Xia acknowledged their rivals have become stronger and that her team should work harder to achieve their Tokyo 2020 goals.
The Asian 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship qualifications will include three tournaments in the first round, with the best teams progressing to the second round against teams including China, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei in Pool A; and Korea, Thailand and Vietnam in Pool B.
Five Asian women’s teams will qualify for the Women’s World Championship, including hosts Japan.