Legendary coach Lang Ping, who led China's women to Olympic gold at Rio 2016 will stay on with the National Team programme, but in a new role as Chief Coach ahead of the country's upcoming obligations which include the FIVB World Grand Prix and the FIVB Grand Champions Cup and leading up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.ch.

The 56-year-old's new duties will include drawing up training plans, as well as supervising practices and matches from off the court.
Her former assistant An Jiajie has been appointed Executive Coach - also a new position.

Lang, who had also won a gold medal as a player at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, stepped down from her position of the China National Team after last year's Games to undergo hip surgery in the USA.
She is the only person to have won Olympic gold both as a player and a coach. In addition, she was head coach of the USA team that won the silver medal in Beijing 2008.

The Chief Coach is a new position designed for Lang. In view of her health problems but also considering her vast expertise and the value she can bring to China's National Team programme. She will focus on overseeing the preparation of the team in the countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.