News Volleyball 30/05/2014 With a lot of experience and young players China’s hopes for the 2014 FIVB World Championshiprely on the famous national coach and legend Lang Ping and her young players. Lang Ping has got the status of a national hero inChina; the former national player of the “Land of the Middle” is one of themost successful volleyball players and coaches in the world. So it’s nosurprise that Lang Ping is a hero and idol for a lot of volleyball fans aroundthe world. “Iron Hammer” Lang Ping, how she was called duringher professional career as national player, won FIVB Women’s World ChampionshipGold in 1982 and Olympic Gold in 1984. After her retirement as professionalvolleyball player, Lang started a career as coach in the USA, returned,however, to China as national coach in 1995 – and won the Silver Medal at theOlympic Games in Atlanta one year afterwards. After having claimed the SilverMedal at the 1998 FIVB World Championship in Japan, Ping resigned because ofhealth reasons. The Chinese legend started to coach on club level in Italy in1999 and won titles and awards with her team. In 2005, Lang Ping came back to internationalvolleyball, this time not for China but the United States of America. TheChinese legend even were standing on the side-line during the Olympic Games inher hometown Beijing – and defeated her home nation China in the opening gameby 3-2. The US team under Lang Ping’s direction, however, lost the final gameagainst Brazil. In 2013, Lang Ping returned to her home nationChina – a special moment for every Chinese volleyball fan as the former Chinesenational player has got the status as a national sports hero. The Chinese pinall their hopes on “Jenny”, how some people call Lang Ping. The 53 years old wants to bring the EastAsians back onto the top of international volleyball – and relies on the nextgeneration in China: Young players, like captain Hui Ruoqi, get the opportunityto play in the national team and get experience. “We’ve got really youngplayers in our roster and need some time as team. We are still a little bittired as the break between club and international competitions was reallyshort”, Lang says.Nevertheless, the Chinese is sure that the teamwill have enough time as there are some big tournaments before the event of theyear, The FIVB Women’s World Championship in Italy: “We’ve got the AsianChampionship and the World Grand Prix. These events will be very important forus, as we need enough time to practice and work with the young kids.” Asconsequence, the Chinese legend doesn’t want to fixed goal for the 2014 FIVBWomen’s World Championship in September/ October: “The big majority of ourplayers have got no experience of playing at World Championships, that’s thereason why we want to take it step by step and play our best.” Print this Page News {{item.LocalShortDate}} {{item.Title}} All the News