Lang Ping hugs one of her players after their final match at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

China's volleyball legend Lang Ping has decided to retire as the national women's volleyball team head coach, after the team ended their Olympic campaign with an underachieving performance.

"I take all the blame as I'm the head coach. When facing difficulties, I could not find a solution and lead the team out of the trap," an emotional Lang told reporters after their last game at the Tokyo Olmpics, a 3-0 win over Argentina on Monday.

She admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic was also a factor for China's early exit from the Games, as domestic players have no place to practice against their opponents. 

The ninth-placed finish in Tokyo is the worst result at the Olympics since winning the title in Los Angeles in 1984. China's previous lowest ranking was seventh at the Barcelona 1992 Games.

However, despite the lackluster performance, Lang received words of gratitude rather than criticism, as fans voiced their good wishes on the internet, hoping the 60-year-old, who has to deal with injuries from her playing days, could enjoy her retirement after many stressful years. 

Glory years



Lang took over during a period of rebuilding of the national team. After the team's fifth-placed finish at London 2012, there was no other domestic coach willing to take the job.

The position of the national team head coach was described as a "hot potato" as the nation holds high expectations of the team since their great achievements in the early 1980s. 

Lang, a member of the team that seized five consecutive world titles in the 1980s, earned the nickname "Iron Hammer" during her playing days. She took the helm of the national team in 2013 and quickly helped the team back to the top table of world volleyball. 

By introducing a new national team player selection method, the squad depth of the national team was significantly enhanced. One of the new players involved into the national team after Lang took charge in 2013 is now team captain Zhu Ting. 

Once viewed as an inconsistent outside spiker, Zhu has transformed to be a solid and powerful attacking force for China under Lang, as she has collected multiple individual honors in the sport.

Though the team finished with a silver medal and a bronze medal in two attempts at the World Championships in 2014 and 2018, Lang has led China to glories in three other major tournaments, capped by the 2016 Rio Olympics with a gold medal win, ending China's 12-year wait for the prestigious Olympic title.

The 2019 World Cup also saw China won the title with convincing 11 consecutive wins, when the country was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The team was invited to participate in the National Day parade, highlighting their contribution to the national rejuvenation.

"The past eight years have been splendid for me, watching the new generation players growing, wining Olympics and the World Cups," Lang said. "I think my career is complete, except this regret [at Tokyo Olympics.]"

But she noted that the regrets could also boost the younger players' ambition for more glory in future years. 

"Regret is a part of life. We have to learn to face them and accept them," said the 60-year-old. "I think this [defeat] is a kind of fortune and we have to learn to accept it."

Team spirit 



After Monday's game, Lang also noted that it is time for a coach from the younger generation to take the reins, saying that she wants to spend more time with family. 

"Our undertaking over volleyball has to continue. My dreams in volleyball have been realized in general. I can't pursue any more at this age," Lang said. "I have spent too much time on career. I owe my family a lot."

She said she might consider promotional work in the future, as she also holds roles in world volleyball serving on the governing body FIVB's technical committee. 

The team spirit of the national women's volleyball team - after their five consecutive world titles in the 1980s - has inspired generations of Chinese to push forward. But Lang said it is not only about winning. 

"The spirit of the national women's volleyball team is not about winning championships. It is about when you know you might not to win you will also give your best," Lang said. 

"It is not about having a winning life but have the attitude to push yourself to win."