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Chinese women basketballers ready to learn from volleyball peers

Xinhua, September 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Chinese women volleyball players have been known for their "fighting spirits" for 30 years ago.

People from all walks of life in China will be urged to learn from them from time to time and now Chinese basketball players need inspiration from their volleyball counterparts.

The Chinese team lifted the first volleyball World Cup in 12 years last Sunday in Nagoya, Japan, a day after the basketball players succumbed to visiting Japanese team 85-50 in women's Asian Championship and lost the direct qualification for 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The last time China lost to an Asian opponents in women's basketball with such a big deficit was in 1980 when they fell to South Korea 101-68.

The basketball team, however, refused to go down under the blow.

"We can't let this damage our confidence of qualifying for next year's Rio Olympics," said team leader Xue Yunfei.

"Our women's volleyball team also experienced low tide but they came back stronger. They are role models for us," Xue said.

"Next year we will invite them to share their stories in the World Cup," he added.

Just as Xue said, although often a source of national pride, Chinese women volleyball were not always in their best shape.

China were almost insurmountable between 1981 and 1986, crowned in two World Championships, two World Cups and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Then came the change of rein and China did not win any world title until 2003 when they lifted the World Cup and then again in 2004 the Olympic Games victory in Athens.

The retirement of the golden generation who won at Athens was followed by a dozen years of low tide as the newcomers never felt comfortable taking up guns from their predecessors.

The team finished a remote 10th in 2010 World Championships, the worst result since 1974; then finished 5th at the 2012 London Games.

Jenny Lang Ping, known as "Iron Hammer" who led the Chinese to the 1981 and 1985 World Cup titles as a player, took over as head coach in 2013 and brought in a fresh air using more young players boldly.

Lang, a world famous spiker while playing, also ushered in a competitive system in national team as no player can guarantee a regular place in the starting lineup.

And more importantly, she brought back the cherished spirits.

"She has built a united team with great fighting spirits," FIVB Life Honorary President Wei Jizhong commented. Endi