It is well-known that on the field of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Chinese women's volleyball team fought hard but still lost 2-3 to the Turkish team, missing out on the medal circle. The main players such as Zhu Ting, Li Yingying, Gong Xiangyu, and Wang Yuanyuan shed tears on the court, unable to hide their disappointment and unwillingness to lose, which was touching. This team, which carries the expectations of countless Chinese people, still showed their indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious spirit even after the defeat. This scene also moved countless volleyball fans, and the fighting spirit of the women's volleyball team deserves the respect of everyone.
With the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Los Angeles Olympic cycle in 2025 has officially begun. The head coaches of various national women's volleyball teams have been announced, and they have started to prepare for the new cycle. The Chinese women's volleyball team will also usher in a major lineup update, and many players will reach the end of their national team careers. This is not only a farewell but also a brand new beginning.
According to the current age situation of the national women's volleyball team members, there are many core players in this team who are nearing the end of their professional careers and may not be able to persist until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. According to the list of current national players, the following is the situation:
Zhu Ting (29 years old), Zhang Changning (28 years old), Li Yingying (24 years old), Wu Mengjie (21 years old), Yuan Xin Yue (27 years old), Wang Yuanyuan (27 years old), Gao Yi (26 years old), Ding Xia (34 years old), Diao Linyu (30 years old), Zheng Yixin (29 years old), Gong Xiangyu (27 years old), Wang Mengjie (28 years old). In this major reshuffle, at least five people will bid farewell to the national team and miss the Los Angeles Olympics.
In the setter position, the direction of Ding Xia and Diao Linyu is highly concerned. Ding Xia was known for her stable passing and calm on-site command during her playing days. She is likely to become a coach after retiring. She already holds a volleyball coaching qualification certificate and may continue to shine in the coaching position in the future.
Another setter, Diao Linyu, has already joined Nanjing Agricultural University last year, and her retirement arrangements are settled, starting her career as a teacher. The former main spiker Zhang Changning and libero Wang Mengjie, with the accumulation of injuries and the decline in form, the possibility of continuing to play for the national team is very small. Both have entered married life and will tend to focus more on family and life in the future.
In the setter position, veteran Zheng Yixin will also fade out of the national team, while Gong Xiangyu has a high probability of staying in the team. She will play a role in "passing on and helping" young players in the national team and continue to contribute to Chinese volleyball.
Although this round of lineup adjustments means the farewell of many veterans, it also provides a stage for young players to showcase their talents. Young forces such as Wu Mengjie and Li Yingying have gradually taken on important roles and will become the core of the Chinese women's volleyball team in the future. With this "renewal and replacement," young players who won championships in international youth competitions last year will gain valuable growth opportunities.
Every team inevitably experiences the pain of new and old alternation, but it is precisely these alternations and trials that promote the continuous growth and transformation of the team. Looking to the future, the Chinese women's volleyball team will continue to uphold the spirit of not fearing strong enemies and never giving up, set off again, and accumulate strength for the next Olympic cycle.