Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team has been on a winning streak in the second stage of the competition, securing four consecutive victories and currently with 12 points, they have locked in a spot in the top four two rounds ahead of schedule. Adding the five consecutive victories at the end of the first stage since Yao Di's return, Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team has achieved nine consecutive victories in the league. At the Club World Cup, Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team won the runner-up with four wins and one loss, creating the best record for a Chinese club team participating in the Club World Cup, and Yao Di's role in the team was greatly highlighted.
Prior to this, Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team used Meng Dou as the starting setter, but their performance was not good. Chen Fang replaced Wang Baoquan as the head coach, but Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team still lost, forcing them to bring Yao Di back early. Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team immediately regained the temperament of a championship team, and the energy of the main attackers, deputy attackers, and receivers were all unleashed.
In the latest round of matches, Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team swept Liaoning Women's Volleyball Team 3-0, with Li Yingying scoring 15 points, Chen Boya scoring 13 points, and Wang Yuanyuan, Fetisova, and Wang Yizhu each scoring 12 points. In just three sets, five players from Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team scored in double figures, which is a true representation of multiple points blooming, making it difficult for opponents to defend against.
Yao Di is truly a representative of both beauty and capability in the Chinese women's volleyball team, serving as a visual icon while also possessing outstanding abilities. In recent years, Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team has achieved five consecutive championships, and Yao Di's personal performance is undoubtedly the best setter. However, it is very regrettable that despite her excellent performance during the Paris Olympic cycle, including her experience playing abroad in Italy, she was still unable to join the Chinese women's volleyball team.
Yao Di felt somewhat disheartened and tearfully expressed in 2023 that she might lose her platform with the national team. After winning the Club World Cup in 2024, Yao Di stated that this would be her last time participating in the Club World Cup, her last league match, and her last National Games. According to her plan, 2025 will be her final performance.
Yao Di has also joined Tianjin University and become a teacher in the sports department, preparing for her transition. However, Yao Di is still the best setter in the Chinese women's volleyball team, and setters are very experienced. There are many excellent setters in the world volleyball arena who are older than Yao Di.
Among the setters in the world volleyball arena, Yao Di's age of 32 is not considered old. If Yao Di can return to the Chinese women's volleyball team, it will be beneficial for the team to achieve remarkable results again in 2025. It is also possible for Yao Di to continue playing for another Olympic cycle.
In fact, joining a university does not mean giving up an athletic career. Zhu Yuling, the world champion in table tennis, joined the sports department of Tianjin University in 2023, but she began representing Macau, China in competitions from 2024. Zhu Yuling chose to make a comeback, and her condition is gradually recovering, possibly even representing Macau, China at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Where will the Chinese women's volleyball team go in the new Olympic cycle? With Yao Di in excellent form, Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team has advanced to the top four two rounds ahead of schedule and will launch an assault on a sixth consecutive championship. If Yao Di helps Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team win the championship again, continuing to prove her worth, will the Chinese women's volleyball coaching staff still keep her out in 2025?