High expectations for Lang Ping as she takes head coach helm

BEIJING - Former volleyball star Jenny Lang Ping was appointed to coach the Chinese women's national team on Thursday.

The 53-year-old former head coach of both the Chinese and US national team emerged as the clear winner from a four-candidate shortlist that included former Chinese women's head coach Cai Bin, former New Zealand men's team coach Jiang Jie and German league coach Liu Changcheng.

Lang Ping, center, head coach of Chinese women's national volleyball team and Guangzhou Evergrande volleyball club, gives guidance to players of Guangzhou Evergrande as the team prepares for the AVC Club Volleyball Championship in Guangzhou, April 26, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

The four candidates had made their presentations during a closed meeting held by the Chinese volleyball governing body 10 days ago.

No financial details were released at Thursday morning's press conference where all the four new head coaches - for the national men's and women's volleyball and beach volleyball teams - were presented to local media, but a source told Xinhua that Lang's annual salary is about 2 million yuan (about $324,000).

Pan Zhichen, director of the Chinese volleyball administrative center, declined to confirm it but said Lang's salary lives up to her credit and fame.

"Lang's a highly-rated coach and she is very professional and much honored," said Pan. "What we've offered shows our respect."

Saying the 2-million-yuan salary was solid, Lang could be China's most paid national team coach alongside with Chinese short-track speed skating head coach Li Yan, who reportedly receives 2 million yuan paycheck.

However, the Evergrande women's volleyball club, which has a year left in their contract with Lang, pays her an annual salary of five million yuan.

Lang, a key member of China's most successful volleyball squad, guided China to the silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Lang Ping is pictured at 1 am midnight during a training session arranged for the Guangzhou Evergrande volleyball club as the team prepares for the AVC Club Volleyball Championship in Guangzhou, April 26, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

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