China head coach Lang Ping presents a signed ball to Bright Food Group CEO Dong Qin
Beijing, China, January 14, 2016 - Head coach Lang Ping and four players including Ceng Chun Lei, Liu Xiao Tong, Ding Xia and Yan Ni attended a signing ceremony Tuesday at Beijing Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to seal a strategic partnership between the China women's volleyball team and Bright Dairy, a leading dairy company in China. They discussed the squad's training programme for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The programme will take place in three phases. In the first phase, the team will be assembled in late January with 12 to 15 players checked in for physical training and conditioning. Players from Jiangsu, Tianjin, Shenzhen Army and Shanghai clubs will join the team later as they are still participating in the China Volleyball League Finals. A second phase will feature high intensity training starting from March to April, followed by warm-up and friendly matches in May. The third phase will be specifically for the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix in June and July, which takes place in the immediate build-up to the Rio Games.
"It is quite a tough schedule for the young team. Though we were victorious in the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup last year, it doesn't mean we are the top team in the world. Every team at the Rio Olympics will play its trump card and be a challenge for China. We still have plenty of areas and shortcomings to work on. I hope veterans and rookies will make breakthroughs and find their groove physically, mentally and technically in the new year!" said Lang Ping.