China's volleyball heroine determined to make Olympics - despite heart surgery just a few months ago
The star of the national side has “a lot of work to do” according to coach Lang Ping as the outside hitter returns to training eight months after heart surgery
Chinese volleyball star Hui Ruoqi is trying to win a place on the China national volleyball squad for the Rio Olympics eight months after undergoing heart surgery.
Her training is a lot better than it was when she first returned to the squad but we still have to monitor her condition closely
The powerful 25-year-old former China captain has returned to training late last month after going under the knife last September in Beijing to correct a cardiac arrhythmia problem that has forced her on the sidelines for a year.
Her heart problem has also threatened to scupper her chances of making the final squad for Rio this summer.
Hui had been captain of the Chinese team in 2013 and has been hailed as the catalyst, who could steer China to their first gold medal in the sport since the Athens Games in 2004.
China coach Lang Ping is hopeful Hui will make the final 12 for Rio but insisted the outside hitter had not played in a year and needed a “lot of work” before she is ready for Rio.
“Her training is a lot better than it was when she first returned to the squad but we still have to monitor her condition closely. After all, she has not played for a year,” said Lang in Beijing on Tuesday.