Legend Liu returning to take command

Liu's involvement in the election group is considered a signal of a possible future role as head of the CTTA. Yao followed a similar course before being elected chairman of the CBA in February 2017.

Under China's traditional State-run sports system, the the nation's sports ministry (GASC) assigned government officials to run various associations, even though some appointees had no related background in their assigned fields.

Since Gou Zhongwen took office as Sports Minister in 2016, several significant management reforms have been initiated, including Yao's stewardship of the CBA, the appointment of Olympic champion coach Lang Ping as vice president of the Chinese Volleyball Association, and short-track speed skating national coach Li Yan's role as chairwoman of the Chinese Skating Association.