CGTN America
Gold medallist China’s Ding Xia (L) poses for a selfie on the podium after the women’s Gold Medal volleyball match at Maracanazinho Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 20, 2016, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (AFP PHOTO / Johannes EISELE)
It’s been a hard-fought tournament for Chinese women’s volleyball team.
When China’s women’s volleyball team started the pool stage in Rio, they lost to Netherlands with two successive defeats.
But you’d have never known it two days later. The team decisively beat a strong Italy, in 3 successive sets.
And they gave a repeat performance against Puerto Rico.
But their elation was short-lived, following defeats against European champions Serbia and the US.
Facing the defending champion and host Brazil, China rallied from losing the first set to stun the two time-defending champions in the decisive fifth.
Facing the Netherlands again in the semi-finals, they won 3-1.
In the final, they came from behind to defeat Serbia.
For the Chinese, the women’s volleyball team has always been a symbol of perseverance. And once again, their perseverance paid off.
Mark Gray on the 2016 Rio Olympics
CCTV’s Susan Roberts talks to Mark Gray, host of The Shadow League, about some of the highlights of the 2016 summer Games.
