The Hammer cometh

China hires ex-coach Lang Ping in attempt to revitalize volleyball team

No more fear. The Iron Hammer is here.

For the past four years, Chinese women's volleyball has been plagued by frustrating international results, frequent coach reshuffles, numerous injuries and a shortage of talent.

Volleyball was the first sport in which China succeeded on a global scale and was widely followed in the 1980s.

A prolonged slump might finally be coming to an end though, as Lang Ping was appointed head coach of the Chinese women's national team for the second time.

Known as the "Iron Hammer", Lang was the country's best-known volleyball icon and a symbol of the "never-say-die" spirit of the team in its heyday. She has been the favorite for the coaching post since the sports authority unveiled its four candidates on April 15. Her return is expected to bring attention and confidence back to the sport.

In an online poll on Sina.com, more than 70 percent of participants said they believe Lang will lead women's volleyball back to the top flight internationally.

Lang's appeal among Chinese volleyball players is also expected to boost the current national lineup, which has several veterans who are planning to retire.

National team player Wei Qiuyue, who was going to retire after the National Games in September, said she is ready to play for the national team for as long as needed now that Lang is the coach.

"Lang's rich coaching experiences give her quite a bit of familiarity with her opponents' strategy and character," Wei said. "She was also an outstanding athlete, which makes it easier for her to understand the feelings and mentality of the players."

In 1995, Lang became head coach of the Chinese national team and guided the squad to a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and second place at the 1998 World Championships in Japan.

Lang took a coaching position in the Italian professional league in the following years, where she won multiple league championships and the coach of the year award.

She became coach of the US national team in 2005, and guided the team over China, 3-2, in a Beijing Olympic game that drew 250 million television viewers in China alone. The US went on to win the silver medal at the Games.

Lang joined Chinese volleyball club Guangzhou Evergrande in 2009, and has led the team to one league championship and two runner-up finishes in three seasons.

She is expected by the State sports authority to guide the team to a podium finish at the Rio Summer Olympics.

Still, it was a difficult decision.

"It wasn't easy for me to make the decision, maybe the most difficult one, and my biggest concern is whether my body can handle the workload," said Lang, who resigned from the national team in 1998 for health reasons.

Former teammate Yang Xi said changing coaches won't cure Chinese volleyball; rather, youth training needs to be improved.

"Lang Ping inherited the dedication and fighting spirit of women's volleyball, which is worthy of praise," Yang said. "But to really make improvements, we should look outside the national team and focus on modifying the youth training system at the local level, instead of expecting one coach to make drastic changes."

Lang is also aware of the problems facing her.

"Chinese volleyball is facing many difficulties," she said. "We are short of both volleyball population and distinguished athletes and we have a lot of work to do, but as long as we work together to overcome the hardships, I have confidence and the determination to accomplish our goals at the Rio Olympics.

"We will work closely with the local coaches, and improve the competency of players both on the national team and clubs. We will work out a new national lineup as soon as possible, discover the potential of each player, and adjust our strategy through training and matches."

Lang will lead Guangzhou Evergrande as it plays in the Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship on Monday, and take over the national team after that.

tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cn