Li Yingying, the talented outside spiker of the Chinese women's national volleyball team, is set to make her second appearance at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris this year. Determined to turn around the team's disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Li is focused on leading China to victory.
In Tokyo, the Chinese team entered as defending champions but faced early exits after losing their first three matches against Türkiye, USA, and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in Pool B. The unexpected results meant the team could not advance to the knockout stage, leading to an early departure from the Games.
At just 21 years old during her first Olympic journey, Li experienced firsthand the heartbreak of the early exit. Reflecting on the Tokyo Games, she shared with China Media Group (CMG), \"It's such a pity. We worked hard in training every day for the past five years. I underperformed and I'm sorry I let coach Lang Ping down.\"
Despite the setback, Li quickly overcame her frustrations and grew into a key attacking ace for the national team over the next three years. She faced and overcame various challenges, including injuries, which only strengthened her resolve. Her efforts contributed to China's gold medal win at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.
Li is not alone in her quest for Olympic glory. With the return of pivotal players like Zhang Changning and Zhu Ting, the team has bolstered its offensive capabilities, creating a formidable lineup. In June, China dominated the FIVB Women's Nations League in Hong Kong, winning all four matches and securing qualification for the Paris Olympics.
Li expressed her determination, saying, \"The Olympic Games for me is in one word: cruel. After what happened last time, I realized that everyone is fighting to survive at the Olympics. I want to be fully prepared for the Olympics this year. I hope we can stand onto the podium this time.\"
Reference(s):
Li Yingying thirsty to make a difference at 2024 Olympic Games
cgtn.com