Injury-troubled Yan blocking out pain for China's cause

Yan Ni has vowed to keep playing through the pain as Team China bids to retain its Olympic title in Tokyo next year.

The veteran middle blocker has been troubled by nagging shoulder and waist injuries in recent years, leading to persistent rumors that she is poised to call time on her career.

However, the 32-year-old is adamant she has no plans to quit just yet and says she is more determined than ever to answer the nation's call.

"I've been suffering a lot with pain and injuries recently. Sometimes, when it has hurt badly, I've thought about giving up, but then I felt it was my responsibility to hold on and fight hard because the team and the coach need me," she said.

"The feeling of being needed makes me happy."

Yan also finds the strength to carry on from the example of coach Lang Ping, who endured dozens of surgeries both during and after her illustrious playing career as a star of the all-conquering Chinese teams of the 1980s.

"It's not easy for her," Yan said. "Once I told her I needed to take painkillers every day to keep on training, and she said, 'I also need to take a lot of medicine every day'. When she is on the training court, I am motivated and encouraged to keep going."

Yan's stunning form helped China to glory at September's World Cup. Averaging 0.94 stuff blocks per set, she won the tournament's Best Middle Blocker award and joined teammate and captain Zhu Ting in the Dream Team.

Yan was also named Best Middle Blocker at last year's world championship, when China finished third behind Italy and winner Serbia.

"It was so exciting to win the World Cup again, it was a great team effort," Yan said. "We fought hard on the way to victory, but we will face a tougher challenge at the Olympic Games next year.

"I did not expect to be named Best Middle Blocker again. Actually, I did not realize it was me when the announcer said my name at the ceremony. Then Zhu told me: 'It's you!' That was really a sweet surprise.

"My statistics at the World Cup were encouraging, but I am not totally satisfied with my blocking skills. I have a lot to learn from other top middle blockers around the world."

Standing 192cm (6-foot-3) tall, Yan, who plays her club volleyball for Liaoning, was first selected to the national team in 2009. However, it wasn't until the appointment of Lang as head coach four years later that Yan began to fulfill her potential on the international stage.

"When I was a kid, I dreamed of joining the national team. My mother was a huge fan of volleyball with Lang Ping as her idol," she said.

"But it was a tough road. I was selected and dropped out a few times. I think I had not been able to impress because I was not good enough. I told myself to train harder, and I believed I would have my chance one day."

Yan truly blossomed at the 2015 World Cup, where she starred in a decisive victory over Russia with 14 points and six stuffs.

"I was so nervous, because the 2015 World Cup was my first major international tournament. I had dreamed of playing Russia twice during the tournament," Yan recalled.

"When coach Lang asked me to prepare myself to start against Russia the day before the match, I was nervous and excited and looking forward to playing. When the match finally began, I was still very nervous. Fortunately, we had an incredible start and I was able to cool off."

China went on to beat Japan in the final round to win the title, and Yan's fine form continued at the 2016 Rio Olympics where the team bagged gold.

Yan and Lang will continue to work side by side as China prepares to defend its title at next year's Tokyo Games. Yan is under no illusions just how tough that will be.

"For sure the Olympics will be more difficult than the World Cup," she said.

"All the best teams will be there and will be trying their best. It is important for us to improve ourselves and get ready for any challenges we will be facing. I will get myself ready too."

Xinhua