https://www.scmp.com/rss/513489/feed The Chinese women’s volleyball team are one of the best in the world, having numerous world and Olympic titles to their name. Hong Kong’s women, meanwhile, claimed their first regional title in 2022, winning the AVC Women’s Challenge Cup. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lars Hamer Lars Hamer The National Games in Hong Kong got off to a quiet start on Friday, with only a few hundred fans watching the first day of beach volleyball, but also with hopes voiced that younger attendees would be inspired. Schoolchildren dominated the crowd as the action unfolded during working hours from 9am at a purpose-built venue in Victoria Park, in a competition that will run until November 10. Beach volleyball is one of eight sports Hong Kong will host at the Games. Both the city’s women’s teams were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331084/national-games-slow-start-hong-kong-beach-volleyball-and-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331084/national-games-slow-start-hong-kong-beach-volleyball-and-court?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:52:16 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong’s beach volleyball players have called on local spectators to help them make the most of home advantage, and said that hearing Cantonese called from the stands would bring the “greatest joy”. Beach volleyball competitions at the National Games start in the purpose-built Victoria Park venue on Friday and run until November 10. Hong Kong have one men's and two women’s teams representing the city, and the players met the media at the new venue on Wednesday. “Honestly, the greatest joy... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3330782/national-games-hong-kong-beach-volleyballers-urge-spectators-make-home-advantage-count?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3330782/national-games-hong-kong-beach-volleyballers-urge-spectators-make-home-advantage-count?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:45:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer The new CEO of Volleyball World has vowed to continue growing the sport in Asia by bringing more tournaments to the continent, with events in mainland China and Hong Kong potentially on the cards. Ugo Valensi took over as the head of Volleyball World last month, after spearheading Grand Slam Tennis, the body running the sport’s four major tournaments. In August and September, the FIVB men’s and women’s Volleyball World Championships got under way in the Philippines and Thailand, respectively,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324183/world-volleyball-chief-targets-china-expansion-sees-beach-future-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324183/world-volleyball-chief-targets-china-expansion-sees-beach-future-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s women put up a spirited performance against defending Volleyball Nations League champions Italy at Kai Tak Arena on Sunday, but eventually succumbed to a 3-0 defeat as the Hong Kong leg of the tournament came to a close. The result, which was China’s first defeat of the week, means they are sixth with one more week of competition before the finals in Poland. China pushed the Paris Olympic champions all the way in the first two sets, losing 25-21, 32-30, but collapsed in the third, bowing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315409/chinas-women-come-just-short-against-olympic-volleyball-champions-italy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315409/chinas-women-come-just-short-against-olympic-volleyball-champions-italy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s women vowed to become the best volleyball team in the world once again, after an impressive 3-1 win over Japan at the Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong on Saturday. Roared on by a boisterous home crowd at a sold-out Kai Tak Arena, China served Japan only their second defeat of the season – with the first a 3-2 loss to Italy on Friday. China’s victory means they are now the highest-ranked team in Asia, stealing Japan’s No 5 spot, with Nippon dropping down to No 6. “I think every team... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315350/chinas-women-target-volleyball-world-no-1-spot-after-taking-japan-scalp-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315350/chinas-women-target-volleyball-world-no-1-spot-after-taking-japan-scalp-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Jun 2025 14:40:06 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Players at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Arena have praised the new venue, saying the bigger and better facilities allowed for the best possible preparation. When this year’s edition began on Wednesday, it was the first time it had not been held in the Hong Kong Coliseum since it came to the city in 2018. Paris Olympic champions Italy beat Thailand 3-0 on Thursday to reclaim their position at the top of the league, before China emerged victorious with a 3-2... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315128/womens-nations-league-volleyball-players-praise-kai-tak-arena-will-miss-coliseum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315128/womens-nations-league-volleyball-players-praise-kai-tak-arena-will-miss-coliseum?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Japan continued their dominance of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League on Wednesday, coming back from two sets down to beat Thailand 3-2 at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Arena and move to the top of the tournament rankings. Before their Hong Kong campaign got under way, world No 5 team Japan had a flawless week in Ottawa, Canada, at the beginning of June, winning all four of their games without dropping a set. But they were made to work for their victory this time around, as world No 14 Thailand... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3314962/womens-nations-league-volleyball-japan-recover-2-sets-down-beat-thailand-3-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3314962/womens-nations-league-volleyball-japan-recover-2-sets-down-beat-thailand-3-2?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:35:22 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan There were plenty of reasons for China head coach Zhao Yong to be happy with his side’s display in their opening Women’s Volleyball Nations League win over Belgium on Wednesday, not least in the performance of young setter Zhang Zixuan. Making her debut for the senior national team in front of raucous home support, the 16-year-old marshalled her offence effectively in the 3-0 win, and showed plenty of potential despite admitting to being “quite nervous before the match”. One of the youngest... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3313190/teen-zhang-stars-china-make-winning-start-volleyball-nations-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3313190/teen-zhang-stars-china-make-winning-start-volleyball-nations-league?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:30:21 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport China’s women begin their road to volleyball redemption at home to Belgium on Wednesday, as the 2025 Nations League gets under way in Beijing. Still smarting from a poor performance at the Paris Olympics, where they lost in the quarter-finals to Turkey, China have since overhauled an ageing squad and installed Zhao Yong as head coach. More than half of the 18-strong squad will be making their international debuts this week, and at a pre-tournament press conference, Zhao said starting in from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3312977/new-look-china-women-open-volleyball-nations-league-campaign-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3312977/new-look-china-women-open-volleyball-nations-league-campaign-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jun 2025 04:06:54 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Olympic gold medallist Hui Ruoqi said China’s new blood would “inject vitality into the team” as details of next month’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League Hong Kong leg were announced on Saturday. Hui, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was speaking at a press conference where officials revealed the tournament would take place in Kai Tak Arena from June 18 to 22. It will be the first time the event has not been held in the Coliseum since the league first came to the city in 2018. In the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3308966/olympic-champion-hui-ruoqi-backing-new-blood-boost-china-volleyball-teams-medal-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3308966/olympic-champion-hui-ruoqi-backing-new-blood-boost-china-volleyball-teams-medal-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:16 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The new head coach of China’s women’s volleyball team has said his players are ready to embrace hard work as they look to re-establish themselves on the world stage. Zhao Yong, who took the helm earlier this month, said success was not “forged by trophies alone” but also involved overcoming adversity. China’s women, who have won a combined 10 titles at Olympics, World Cups and World Championships, finished a disappointing ninth at the Tokyo Olympics before ending up fifth in Paris last year. “We... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3308348/china-womens-volleyball-coach-zhao-says-hard-work-can-take-team-back-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3308348/china-womens-volleyball-coach-zhao-says-hard-work-can-take-team-back-top?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Hong Kong has continued its build-up to November’s National Games, which it will co-host, by staging a test event for beach volleyball at Victoria Park this weekend. Lo Wai-yan, previously a member of the Hong Kong team who finished ninth at the Asian Games in Hangzhou two years ago, said the park was a good choice of venue, even if it involved transporting sand to the middle of a city that has an abundance of real beaches. “Victoria Park has a lot of experience,” she said on Saturday, citing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3307162/beach-volleyballs-national-games-test-event-brings-seaside-hong-kongs-victoria-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3307162/beach-volleyballs-national-games-test-event-brings-seaside-hong-kongs-victoria-park?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Apr 2025 04:00:21 +0000 Zhao Yong was appointed coach of the Chinese women’s volleyball team on Thursday and charged with taking the one-time powerhouse back to the Olympic podium in Los Angeles in 2028. Olympic gold medallists in Los Angeles in 1984 and again in 2004 and 2016, China finished fifth at last year’s Games in Paris after being knocked out by Turkey in the quarter-finals. Lai Yawen, head of volleyball at the General Administration of Sport, told state media that Zhao showed a “strong resilience under... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3305969/zhao-charged-taking-chinas-women-back-volleyball-glory-2028-la-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3305969/zhao-charged-taking-chinas-women-back-volleyball-glory-2028-la-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:44:29 +0000 Volleyball player Payton McNabb – who was severely injured by a transgender opponent during a game in 2022 – was invited as a special guest of President Donald Trump at a joint address to Congress on Tuesday. The former North Carolina high school athlete called out Democrats for “failing women”, writes the New York Post. “When her girls’ volleyball match was invaded by a male,” Trump claimed upon introducing McNabb to the audience, while incorrectly gendering her opponent. “He smashed the ball... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3301318/meet-payton-mcnabb-volleyball-player-mentioned-donald-trumps-speech-congress-19-year-old-was-injured?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3301318/meet-payton-mcnabb-volleyball-player-mentioned-donald-trumps-speech-congress-19-year-old-was-injured?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:00:35 +0000 Influencer Kayla Simmons, known as the world’s sexiest volleyball player, according to The Sun, sends her fans into a frenzy whenever she shows up in their Instagram feeds putting on a bold display, mostly in swimwear. So when her million-strong following on the platform saw her in a leg brace on a carousel of photos she posted, they rushed to the comments section with concerns. While the blonde bombshell did not reveal how she suffered the injury, the series of “outfit of the day” pictures she... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3300787/meet-kayla-simmons-volleyball-star-and-onlyfans-favourite-she-has-modelled-maxim-australia-tried-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3300787/meet-kayla-simmons-volleyball-star-and-onlyfans-favourite-she-has-modelled-maxim-australia-tried-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Mar 2025 21:00:13 +0000 The Chinese city of Ningbo will host the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Men’s Finals, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced on Tuesday. Scheduled for July 30 until August 3, the event will be staged at the Ningbo Beilun Sports and Arts Centre in the East Chinese city, which also hosted qualifying rounds for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. The women’s finals, meanwhile, will take place in the Polish city of Lodz from July 23 to 27. In 2024, both Hong Kong and Macau... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3299234/ningbo-host-2025-volleyball-nations-league-finals-millions-watch-hong-kong-macau-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3299234/ningbo-host-2025-volleyball-nations-league-finals-millions-watch-hong-kong-macau-events?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:57:22 +0000 Volleyball regularly features in lists of the world’s top five most popular sports and a rebranded Japanese league is launching it new season later on Friday with the aim of translating that popularity into a global profile. The opening match in the men’s SV.League will take place when crosstown rivals Osaka Bluteon and Suntory Sunbirds Osaka clash in Tokyo, but the ambition of the league is far greater than engaging volleyball fans in Japan’s third-largest city. “We aim to go beyond being just... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3282018/svleague-can-japan-competitions-new-look-give-volleyball-profile-rival-football?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3282018/svleague-can-japan-competitions-new-look-give-volleyball-profile-rival-football?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:30:08 +0000 The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) became one of the most-watched sports events this year, with the latest edition breaking records for attendance, viewership, and social media reach. Featuring the world’s top national teams, the tournament became the second-most watched sports broadcast in China, with a peak viewership reaching 23.6 million and a cumulative audience of 268 million. The host nation of the men’s final round, Poland, recorded a cumulative audience of 46 million, while Thailand,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3270781/volleyball-nations-league-2024-sets-records-attendance-viewership-and-engagement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3270781/volleyball-nations-league-2024-sets-records-attendance-viewership-and-engagement?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:00:16 +0000 Recently, a heartwarming scene unfolded at the Hong Kong Coliseum at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League. On June 15, after the Chinese team clinched a tough comeback victory over world No 1 Turkey, the crowd spontaneously erupted, singing Red Sun, the classic anthem by Hong Kong legend Hacken Lee Hak-kan. Clips of thousands of fans belting out the familiar Cantonese lyrics went viral on the mainland’s social media. The moment was a glimpse into the potentially unifying role of sports in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3267606/nothing-brings-hongkongers-and-mainland-chinese-closer-together-sports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3267606/nothing-brings-hongkongers-and-mainland-chinese-closer-together-sports?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jun 2024 01:30:08 +0000 China’s women’s volleyball team have been drawn with the US in the group stages of the Olympics for the eighth time in a row but fans remain optimistic they can progress despite having failed to record a victory over the Americans at the Games since Beijing in 2008. The round-robin pool draw for the Paris Olympics took place in Bangkok on Wednesday, a day before the Nations League finals kicked off, and saw China land in Group A alongside hosts France, the United States and Serbia. This year,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3267362/paris-olympics-china-volleyball-fans-lament-facing-us-again-what-kind-fate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3267362/paris-olympics-china-volleyball-fans-lament-facing-us-again-what-kind-fate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:00:08 +0000 China volleyball legend Lang Ping has said her country’s women’s team must be realistic about their prospects at the Paris Olympics, suggesting a lack of consistency may cost them in a high-quality tournament. During the Hong Kong leg of the sport’s Nations League over the past six days, China clinched qualification to both the Olympics and the league’s season finals, with a stunning comeback to beat the then world No 1 side Turkey among the highlights. Their performances at Hong Kong Coliseum,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266833/china-volleyball-team-too-erratic-win-olympics-need-zhu-ting-legend-lang-ping-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266833/china-volleyball-team-too-erratic-win-olympics-need-zhu-ting-legend-lang-ping-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:30:10 +0000 Chinese volleyball gained some much-needed feelgood factor as head coach Cai Bin’s team swept away Poland on a tide of energy and exuberance at Hong Kong Coliseum on Sunday. China won 3-0 on a night that had none of the drama of Saturday’s fightback to beat Turkey, but produced a more accomplished display, dominating the team ranked world No 4. Cai’s side never looked back after going in front for the first time at 17-16 in the opening set. They closed it out 25-23, before dominating the next... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266825/volleyball-nations-league-brazil-eye-olympic-gold-after-hong-kong-clean-sweep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266825/volleyball-nations-league-brazil-eye-olympic-gold-after-hong-kong-clean-sweep?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:48:25 +0000 China came back from the dead to upset world No 1 team Turkey 3-2 on a night of high drama at a rocking Hong Kong Coliseum. The pressure appeared to be mounting on under-fire head coach Cai Bin when his team surrendered the opening two sets of their Volleyball Nations League (VNL) encounter on Saturday. Cai’s players came roaring back, however. The 25-21 third-set scoreline did not accurately reflect their superiority, then momentum completely swung in set four. The previously imperious Turkey... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266775/volleyball-nations-league-jubilant-china-fight-back-stun-world-no-1-team-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3266775/volleyball-nations-league-jubilant-china-fight-back-stun-world-no-1-team-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Jun 2024 15:36:35 +0000 Chinese volleyball fans were split over the prospects for their country’s women’s team after they were gifted a place at their 11th straight Olympics. Results elsewhere in the Volleyball Nations League meant China, who began the week under threat in the race for Paris, were France-bound even before their second match in the league’s Hong Kong leg on Friday. They had a helping hand from Japan, where other teams’ results in the league’s Fukuoka leg left China, as well as the Japanese, safely... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3266724/paris-olympics-chinese-volleyball-fans-torn-womens-side-handed-place-summer-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3266724/paris-olympics-chinese-volleyball-fans-torn-womens-side-handed-place-summer-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Jun 2024 02:39:14 +0000 China returned to winning ways at the Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong with a commanding performance against Bulgaria on Tuesday. Needing to improve on their patchy results in the league’s previous leg in Macau to keep their Olympic qualifying hopes alive, they got off to the start they wanted at Hong Kong Coliseum with a 3-0 victory. Star player Zhu Ting, who was used only sparingly in Macau after fighting back from injury, was handed a start, to the roars of the spectators. And the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3266218/volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong-china-start-win-keep-olympic-hopes-alive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3266218/volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong-china-start-win-keep-olympic-hopes-alive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:46:49 +0000 China will begin their quest to secure qualification for the Paris Olympic Games on Tuesday, hoping to start on the right track with a win over Bulgaria in the Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong. The four matches at the Hong Kong Coliseum this week are the final chances for teams to improve their rankings as the remaining five berths for the Games will be allocated after the VNL preliminary phase. China will then play Germany, Turkey and league leaders Poland in three straight days from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3266067/every-match-counts-china-volleyball-nations-league-paris-olympics-spot-beckons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3266067/every-match-counts-china-volleyball-nations-league-paris-olympics-spot-beckons?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2024 13:00:19 +0000 The under-pressure coach of China’s women’s volleyball team has promised fans they will see more of superstar spiker Zhu Ting in the Hong Kong leg of the FIVB Women’s Nations League in the coming week. Head coach Cai Bin was heavily criticised by Chinese fans and former professionals last week after his side lost two out of four games in the Macau leg, leaving the national team facing the possibility of missing out on qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in 40 years. Little was seen in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3265917/where-zhu-ting-chinas-womens-volleyball-coach-cai-bin-addresses-nations-league-flak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3265917/where-zhu-ting-chinas-womens-volleyball-coach-cai-bin-addresses-nations-league-flak?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Jun 2024 13:45:47 +0000 China head into the Hong Kong leg of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League next week under fire from their fans and facing the daunting possibility of not qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in 40 years. Next Tuesday, the Hong Kong Coliseum will host the international tournament’s third and final round of pool fixtures. China’s women slumped to two losses in four games in the previous round in Macau, including one to direct Olympic qualification rivals Japan and a 3-0 battering... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3265520/china-volleyballers-go-hong-kong-leg-womens-nations-league-under-fire-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3265520/china-volleyballers-go-hong-kong-leg-womens-nations-league-under-fire-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:00:24 +0000 Men’s volleyball is flying high in Japan with the national team ranked fourth globally ahead of the Paris Olympics and the sport’s soaring popularity fuelled by a manga blockbuster. Haikyu!!, a tale of school teams featuring an inspirational comic-book hero determined to beat the odds and his diminutive stature, has sold 60 million copies since its 2012 inception. Turned into a hit anime series, the manga has now spawned a film, Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle, that has taken 10 billion yen (US$65... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3263332/haikyu-manga-fuels-volleyball-mania-japan-national-team-ranked-fourth-world-heading-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3263332/haikyu-manga-fuels-volleyball-mania-japan-national-team-ranked-fourth-world-heading-paris-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 May 2024 09:30:19 +0000 Former Chinese women’s volleyball captain Zhu Ting will make her first national team appearance in more than two years when she returns to the court at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League in Macau. The Olympic champion, who won gold in Rio in 2016, will also take part in the third and final event of the season in Hong Kong next month, as China battle for a place at the Paris Games this summer. Having guided club side Pallavolo Scandicci to second in the Italian Women’s Serie A1 last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3262364/china-volleyball-captain-zhu-end-national-team-exile-drive-teams-bid-paris-olympics-qualification?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3262364/china-volleyball-captain-zhu-end-national-team-exile-drive-teams-bid-paris-olympics-qualification?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 May 2024 07:08:06 +0000 Olympic gold medallist and China volleyball legend Xu Yunli has backed the national side to deliver on the court when the Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong 2024 tournament descends on the city in June. Xu was speaking at a press conference to launch the event which will be held from June 11 to 16 at the Hong Kong Coliseum. “As the final international tournament before the Paris Olympics, I believe all teams have made sufficient preparations, so the matches in Hong Kong will definitely be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3260637/olympic-volleyball-legend-xu-yunli-backs-china-glory-nations-league-hong-kong-2024-june?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3260637/olympic-volleyball-legend-xu-yunli-backs-china-glory-nations-league-hong-kong-2024-june?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Apr 2024 12:00:16 +0000 The wait for Zhu Ting’s return to the Chinese women’s national volleyball team is set to go on further, with the star spiker confirming she will undergo more rehabilitative training on her wrist injury. Zhu has been out of action since the problem ended her Tokyo Olympics early, as China surrendered their title and limped out in the group stage. She will now miss the Asian Games, as well as China’s qualification bid for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 28-year-old, who was part of the side that won... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3232708/zhu-ting-visit-spanish-doctors-wrist-injury-persists-chinese-volleyball-star-set-miss-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3232708/zhu-ting-visit-spanish-doctors-wrist-injury-persists-chinese-volleyball-star-set-miss-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:26:49 +0000 China’s women’s team lost to Turkey in the Volleyball Nations League final in Texas, but their players made up almost half of the tournament’s dream team after the country’s best ever finish. Despite their 3-1 defeat in Arlington on Sunday, captain Yuan Xinyue and two of her teammates, outsider hitter Li Yingying and setter Diao Linyu, were named in the seven-player list. Li led the Chinese effort in the final with 21 points, with Yuan the only other member of the team with double-digit points... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3227962/volleyball-nations-league-chinese-trio-earn-dream-team-consolation-after-loss-turkey-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3227962/volleyball-nations-league-chinese-trio-earn-dream-team-consolation-after-loss-turkey-final?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:15:58 +0000 China’s women’s team are guaranteed their best finish at the Volleyball Nations League after a straight-sets semi-final win over Poland in Arlington, Texas. New champions will be crowned after Turkey stunned hosts and three-time champions the United States at College Park Centre in the other semi-final to set up a first meeting of the season with the Chinese later on Sunday. Ranked No 5 in the table after the preliminary round, China followed up their 3-1 quarter-final win over Brazil with a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3227895/volleyball-nations-league-chinas-women-set-best-finish-they-reach-final-against-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3227895/volleyball-nations-league-chinas-women-set-best-finish-they-reach-final-against-turkey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jul 2023 08:48:02 +0000 China’s men are staring relegation from the FIVB volleyball Nations League in the face after a 3-1 defeat by Canada in the final match of the preliminary phase. Following Sunday’s 23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 loss at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, China are bottom of the standings with two wins from 12 matches this season, and just six points to their name. The victory ensured Canada avoid relegation. China must hope Cuba lose 3-0 to Iran in their pool match in Anaheim, California, where... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3227071/china-mens-volleyball-team-face-relegation-elite-nations-league-fans-turn-coaching-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3227071/china-mens-volleyball-team-face-relegation-elite-nations-league-fans-turn-coaching-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jul 2023 08:02:07 +0000 Chinese state media celebrated the “endless good news” as the women’s volleyball team gave fans even more to cheer about on Sunday following the country’s basketball Asia Cup triumph. China’s women came from behind to stun the United States 3-2 at the South Korea leg of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League in Suwon. “Different arenas, same struggle. Praise the girls who fought more and more bravely,” CCTV wrote in a post on China’s Twitter-like social media platform Weibo. The 18-25,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3226354/china-celebrates-endless-good-news-womens-volleyball-team-beat-usa-after-asia-cup-basketball-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3226354/china-celebrates-endless-good-news-womens-volleyball-team-beat-usa-after-asia-cup-basketball-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jul 2023 04:59:14 +0000 Hong Kong volleyball officials hope to stage an invitational event at the city’s new Kai Tak Sports Park next year in a bid to convince the game’s global governing body to bring the Women’s Nations League back in 2025. Days after this month’s tournament finished at Hong Kong Coliseum, Wilfred Ng Sau-kei, president of the city’s volleyball association, outlined plans for a four or eight-team competition after the Paris Olympics. Ng said it was obvious that after the park was built that any future... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3224710/fivb-volleyball-womens-nations-league-hong-kong-targets-test-tournament-kai-tak-sports-park-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3224710/fivb-volleyball-womens-nations-league-hong-kong-targets-test-tournament-kai-tak-sports-park-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jun 2023 08:00:12 +0000 China head coach Cai Bin urged his team “to fix the problems” after they suffered back-to-back defeats against Poland and Italy at the Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong. Facing the defending champions at the Hong Kong Coliseum, world No 4 China twice took the lead before the Italians levelled things up and eventually walked away with a 23-25, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22, 15-12 win in a five-set thriller. “We certainly have a lot of room for improvement, and that includes our ability to kill the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3224575/volleyball-nations-league-china-fans-question-coach-cai-bin-after-back-back-losses-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3224575/volleyball-nations-league-china-fans-question-coach-cai-bin-after-back-back-losses-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jun 2023 06:17:58 +0000 Turkey secured their third Volleyball Nations League win in Hong Kong, and their sixth this season, beating the Dominican Republic 3-1 in Hung Hom on Sunday. Melissa Vargas, who played as opposite spiker, was instrumental in her side’s win. The 23-year-old was Turkey’s highest scorer, with a game-high 29 points, of which 26 were in attack. Jineiry Martinez was the top scorer for the Queens of the Caribbean, with 19 points. “It’s very important to us, because we want to try to win as many matches... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224520/volleyball-nations-league-turkey-sign-hong-kong-third-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224520/volleyball-nations-league-turkey-sign-hong-kong-third-win?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jun 2023 14:59:46 +0000 Poland stunned the volleyball world by dealing China their first defeat in this season’s Nations League with a convincing straight sets win on Saturday night in Hung Hom. The Poles walked away with a 25-20, 25-23, 25-22 win after 90 minutes – their third victory at the Hong Kong Coliseum, and seventh in the pool stage since it started late last month. Magdalena Stysiak, who played as opposite spiker, again led the offence with a game-high 20 points. The 22-year-old has led the team in scoring in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224459/volleyball-nations-league-italy-beat-netherlands-5-set-epic-set-tone-china-showdown-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224459/volleyball-nations-league-italy-beat-netherlands-5-set-epic-set-tone-china-showdown-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jun 2023 13:36:36 +0000 Unbeaten China continued their winning streak at the women’s 2023 Volleyball Nations League with a comfortable victory over Bulgaria on Friday night, their second in Hong Kong and sixth in the pool stage since it began last month. Hosts China were cheered on by a partisan crowd at the Coliseum in Hung Hom, as they rebounded from losing the first set to win 20-25, 25-7, 25-10, 25-15. Outside hitter Li Yingying was solid at the net, scoring a team-high 18 points, while captain Yuan Xinyue was not... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224375/volleyball-nations-league-canadas-brie-king-hails-hong-kong-despite-turkey-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224375/volleyball-nations-league-canadas-brie-king-hails-hong-kong-despite-turkey-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jun 2023 11:19:20 +0000 Canada’s Hilary Howe wants the “perfect birthday gift” when her team take on Turkey at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong on Friday. After easing past Bulgaria in straight sets on Thursday for their third win this season, Canada are already just one win away from tying their record number of victories in the tournament. Against Bulgaria, it was never in doubt for the world No 13 side at the Hong Kong Coliseum, as they walked away with a convincing 25-15, 25-13, 25-15 win in just 75... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224221/volleyball-nations-league-canadas-hilary-howe-eyes-perfect-birthday-gift-against-turkey-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224221/volleyball-nations-league-canadas-hilary-howe-eyes-perfect-birthday-gift-against-turkey-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jun 2023 11:12:37 +0000 Heavyweights Italy kicked off their campaign in the Hong Kong leg of the women’s Volleyball Nations League with a convincing victory over Bulgaria – but the defending champions still have a long way to go if they want to repeat their success of last year. Their 3-0 win (25-17, 25-19, 25-23) at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom on Wednesday was only their second so far this season in the 16-team tournament, having beaten Asian team Thailand 3-2 in Antalya, Turkey in the opening round two weeks... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224098/volleyball-nations-league-defending-champions-italy-win-opening-game-hong-kong-against-bulgaria?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3224098/volleyball-nations-league-defending-champions-italy-win-opening-game-hong-kong-against-bulgaria?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:55:41 +0000 China’s volleyball stars kicked off their Women’s Nations League in Hong Kong in convincing fashion on Tuesday, beating Canada in straight sets. Having won all their four matches in the previous round in Nagoya last week, the squad maintained their 100 per cent record with a 25-14, 25-18, 29-27 win in front of a partisan 4,000-strong crowd at Hong Kong Coliseum. Lead by captain Yuan Xinyue, a member of the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medal winning team, the world No 5s proved much better than their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3223983/fivb-womens-nations-league-china-making-winning-start-hong-kong-partisan-crowd-make-it-feel-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3223983/fivb-womens-nations-league-china-making-winning-start-hong-kong-partisan-crowd-make-it-feel-home?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jun 2023 15:20:50 +0000 Poland head coach Stefano Lavarini admitted he was “surprised” as his team extended their unbeaten FIVB Volleyball Nations League run to five matches at the Hong Kong Coliseum on Tuesday evening. World No 8 Poland, who have only reached the final round once in four previous appearances, eased past the Dominican Republic 3-1 in the opening match of the Hong Kong leg. “We did not expect that we will be able to play with such quality and intensity for five matches in a row,” Lavarini said. “But... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3223970/volleyball-nations-league-surprise-package-poland-continue-unbeaten-run-hong-kong-opener?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3223970/volleyball-nations-league-surprise-package-poland-continue-unbeaten-run-hong-kong-opener?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:08:23 +0000 China may have flopped at the Tokyo Olympics, but they are a popular draw in Hong Kong, where the second leg of the women’s Volleyball Nations League begins on Tuesday. They start their campaign against Canada on the opening day at the Coliseum in Hung Hom, followed by matches against Bulgaria on Friday, then Poland and defending champions Italy over the weekend. And the head of the Hong Kong Volleyball Association (HKVA) said the mainlanders were proving especially popular among the eight teams... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3223838/volleyball-nations-league-china-team-big-draw-hong-kong-they-put-dismal-olympics-behind-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3223838/volleyball-nations-league-china-team-big-draw-hong-kong-they-put-dismal-olympics-behind-them?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jun 2023 12:58:27 +0000 Ex-China captain Hui Ruoqi is backing her country’s women’s team to shine when the new Nations League begins this summer. At a press conference to launch the return of the competition to Hong Kong after a four-year break, the Olympic gold medallist also said she missed the “good old days” of playing in playing in the city and would be watching when the tournament was played in June. Hui, who retired in 2018, said the women’s team was in the process of rebuilding and should be given time to gel,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3217998/ex-china-volleyball-captain-hui-ruoqi-backs-team-shine-hong-kong-prepares-welcome-return-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3217998/ex-china-volleyball-captain-hui-ruoqi-backs-team-shine-hong-kong-prepares-welcome-return-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Apr 2023 12:40:36 +0000 The FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) will return to Hong Kong in June as an “M” mark event after a four-year hiatus because of the pandemic. The sport’s world governing body announced its 2023 schedule on Friday, with Hong Kong back on the calendar from June 13-18. Eight teams will feature in the round robin event at the Coliseum in Hung Hom, including China and world No 2 Italy, who are the defending champions. “We submitted our bid for the VNL 2023 earlier this year. We know there are a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3199394/volleyball-nations-league-latest-big-sporting-event-return-hong-kong-full-house-expected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3199394/volleyball-nations-league-latest-big-sporting-event-return-hong-kong-full-house-expected?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Nov 2022 09:33:20 +0000