Translation of the article content into English:
Since entering the Los Angeles Olympic cycle, the entire world volleyball arena has undergone a complete transformation. Many familiar faces have gradually left the stage, and new forces are quietly rising. Especially for the Chinese women's volleyball team, after the baptism of the Paris cycle, some veterans who once brought glory to the country will also bid farewell to the volleyball court. As the old saying goes, "The camp is made of iron, but the soldiers flow like water," the replacement of athletes is a normal occurrence. This is also the charm of competitive sports; there is always fresh blood entering, and heroes writing new chapters.
The changes in the Chinese women's volleyball team are not just limited to the change of players; the adjustment of the coaching staff is equally noteworthy. The Volleyball Association has made some adjustments to the coaching staff, with Yuan Lingxi, Bao Zhuang, and Li Yanlong being transferred to local teams. Except for the head coach position, almost all other assistant coach positions have been reorganized. This also makes people wonder if Cai Bin's position as head coach is stable. With the changing landscape of the world volleyball arena, whether Cai Bin can continue to lead the Chinese women's volleyball team into battle has become a hot topic of discussion.
Currently, among the top five women's volleyball teams in the world, except for the Chinese team, the coaches of the other teams have already decided on their new head coaches: the coaches of the United States and Serbia have been announced, while Brazil and Italy are maintaining their existing coaching staff. From this perspective, although there is still no official news of a coaching change for the Chinese team, the fact that the Volleyball Association was able to quickly complete the adjustment of other coaches may also imply that Cai Bin's position as head coach will not be shaken for the time being. After the Paris Olympic cycle, Cai Bin's coaching has received widespread recognition from the outside world, especially his stable status in the domestic sports circle, making his position as head coach even more secure.
However, even if the position of the head coach remains unchanged for the time being, the adjustment of the player lineup is still an inevitable trend. In fact, four national players are about to say goodbye to the fans, and it is almost certain that they will not appear again at the Los Angeles Olympics. Among these veterans, the first one to mention must be setter Ding Xia. At her age, the Los Angeles Olympics four years later is almost unrealistic for her. Now 35 years old, she will face the high age of 38 by then, and historically, no 38-year-old setter has been able to continue competing on the Olympic stage. Considering her age and physical condition, Ding Xia's farewell is almost just a matter of time. Cai Bin must also start looking for her successor.
In addition, main setter Diao Linyu, although still maintaining a good competitive state and technical characteristics that fit Cai Bin's tactical system, has already paved the way for life after retirement. It is understood that Diao Linyu plans to teach at Nanjing Agricultural University after retiring and is expected to officially bid farewell to the national team after the National Games. For the Chinese women's volleyball team, Diao Linyu's departure may mean a new change in the setter position, and Cai Bin needs to step up the search for a new setter candidate.
Let's talk about libero Wang Mengjie next. After getting married, Wang Mengjie repeatedly stated that as long as her physical conditions allow, she would still contribute to the national team. However, injuries seem to have become her biggest enemy. Wang Mengjie's old injuries frequently recur, and recently she missed Beijing Volleyball's matches due to a waist injury, causing the team to suffer three consecutive defeats. Injuries have become her "time bomb," and it is not easy for her to continue serving the Chinese women's volleyball team for another four years. Judging from the current situation, the time for Wang Mengjie to leave the national team may not be far away. Fortunately, there are rising stars like Ni Feifan, Xu Jianan, and Wu Xinyu in the same position, providing more options for the Chinese women's volleyball team. Perhaps the libero position will not experience a gap due to Wang Mengjie's departure in the future.
As for Zhang Changning, although she left many surprises during the Paris Olympics, her state has significantly declined since returning to the league. Since returning to Jiangsu Volleyball, she has not yet played in 10 games for the team and has not even entered the top 20 of the main attacker list. More importantly, Zhang Changning has already gotten married, and changes in her life may have had some impact on her state. In such a fiercely competitive environment for main attackers, it seems not so easy for Zhang Changning to regain her footing. The rise of young players like Wu Mengjie, Zhuang Yushan, and Chen Xiyue undoubtedly puts greater pressure on Zhang Changning. If the current situation continues to develop, Zhang Changning may even struggle to maintain her place in the Chinese women's volleyball team's roster of 14 players.
Seeing these changes, many fans feel somewhat reluctant, but they also have to admit that with the arrival of the new cycle, the Chinese women's volleyball team needs fresh blood and must make adjustments for the future. A team cannot rely on veterans forever, which is a common phenomenon in competitive sports. As netizens commented, "Although it's hard to let go, this is also the norm for the women's volleyball team. The retirement of veterans gives young players opportunities, allowing for the cultivation of more strong players." Another netizen expressed, "The departure of veterans does make people feel a bit lost, but seeing young players gradually emerge, there is still hope." In other words, although some will leave, more will stand up to continue fighting for the country's honor.
In addition to Ding Xia, Diao Linyu, Wang Mengjie, and Zhang Changning, the former "Wang" duo—Wang Yizhu and Wang Yunlu—also seem somewhat awkward in this adjustment. They were once favored by Cai Bin for their performance in the national team, but now, they seem to face greater challenges if they want to return to the national team. The competition on the main attack line is very fierce, coupled with their average performance this year, it will be quite difficult for them to stand out.
The new cycle of the Chinese women's volleyball team is destined to be a period of great change. Players, coaches, and even the entire framework of the team are undergoing a reshuffle. Although some veterans will bid farewell, new forces are constantly emerging. Cai Bin and the Volleyball Association must prepare well in advance, lay out early, and make adequate preparations for future challenges.