Lang resigns as women’s head coach
CHINA’S legendary volleyball player and coach Lang Ping, known as the “Iron Hammer” for her fierce spiking, said yesterday she has resigned as the head coach of the Chinese women’s team, which saw its worst performance in nearly 40 years at the just-concluded 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The China Volleyball Association confirmed that Lang’s contract expired on Tuesday.
The first thing Lang did after handing in her resignation was to return to Suzhou, neighboring Jiangsu Province, to visit the tomb of her mother, who passed away a year ago while the volleyball team was training in isolation for the Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said on social media.
“I told my mother I didn’t finish my task successfully at the Tokyo Olympic Games, which is a great regret, but whether it was perfect or not, I have to say goodbye,” Lang wrote.
The Chinese women’s team, the defending champion, crashed out in the group stage at the Games, following three straight losses to Turkey, the United States and the Russian Olympic Committee.
Lang took the blame for the crushing defeat, saying she was not able to find a solution and lead the team through the tough times.
“All the difficulties and suffering are worthwhile as I love volleyball... Looking back at all these years of my career, I feel extremely fulfilled and happy,” Lang wrote.
She also expressed gratitude for fans’ adulation across the country.
Lang didn’t say what her next step would be but claimed she would spend more time with her family.
Known as the “Iron Hammer” during her playing career, the Tianjin-born Lang took over the Chinese women’s team for the second time in 2013.
Under Lang’s direction, China won Olympic gold at Rio 2016, as well as the 2015 and 2019 World Cup titles.