China’s women’s sitting volleyball coach Xu Huimin is diligently preparing her team for the intense competition in Pool A. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sitting volleyball, scheduled from 29 August to 7 September at the North Paris Arena, promises to be a significant test for Xu and her players.
Pool A consists of reigning Paralympic champions the United States, European champions Italy, and hosts France, who will have their home crowd behind them.
Xu is ensuring that the team’s preparations have evolved so that her team is ready to meet the challenges at the Games head-on.
“Our training philosophy is to always focus on maximising our strengths and minimising our weaknesses. Teams like the United States and Italy rely on height and power, which influences their style of play,” Xu pointed out.
“Meanwhile, our team relies on our experience and resilience. We aim to adapt and respond effectively to different opponents, making sure we play to our strengths while mitigating those challenges.”
Xu acknowledges the highly technical and tactical levels of her opponents, noting their dynamic attack and defence systems, as well as their individual skills.
“When facing top-level opponents, we need to be fully prepared. The key to victory isn’t just about being powerful; it’s about being steady and consistent. Our players must be ready in all aspects, including technique, physical fitness, and mental strength,” she said.
Maintaining motivation and cohesion among her players is another critical aspect of Xu’s approach. The motivation of the Chinese team stems from various sources, including the support of their fans, the cultural heritage of the team, and effective management.
“The Chinese people have a deep-rooted passion for sports, which was significantly amplified after the successful hosting of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The unprecedented attention of 1.4 billion people to these events, coupled with widespread national support, has provided our athletes with immense emotional motivation,” Xu said.
“The phrase ‘bringing glory to the country’ consistently inspires Chinese athletes to give their all. Furthermore, China’s women’s sitting volleyball team boasts impressive achievements, with some players still active since their participation at Athens 2004. This continuity helps cultivate a positive team atmosphere, inspiring the younger athletes to strive for excellence and teamwork.”
At the 2024 WPV Women’s Super 6 in Nancy, France, China finished with a silver medal, and their participation has provided valuable insights into the team’s latest developments and tactical changes.
“USA and Italy have an advantage at the net, so we need to work harder in that area to close the gap. However, it’s important that we don’t change just for the sake of change and lose our own strengths. We need to leverage our unique skills and team cohesion, finding and exploiting our opponents’ weaknesses as opportunities for breakthroughs,” Xu emphasised.
Their goal, like any other team at Paris 2024, is clear: to win the gold medal. They are going all out in their preparations to achieve this goal.
“Participating in such a grand event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase each team’s strength and spirit and to promote understanding and respect among different cultures. The goal of China’s women’s sitting volleyball team at the Paris Paralympics is still to win the gold. We are fully committed to our preparations.
“Our chances of winning gold depend on various factors, including the athletes’ training conditions, their performance on the day of the competition, and the strength of our opponents. While there are many uncertainties, we will approach every opponent with seriousness and caution, and we are confident in our ability to achieve victory,” she concluded.
China remain a top contender to win gold. After clinching the Paris 2024 ticket at the PVAO Zone Championships in Astana, they went on to win two more gold medals in 2023 – the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and the WPV Sitting Volleyball World Cup in Cairo.
