The bustling crowd at Baoan Stadium in Shenzhen on November 23 came not so much to watch the volleyball match Tianjin Bohai Bank and Guangdong Evergrande, but for the early celebrations to mark star player Zhu Ting's 25th birthday.

Zhu was greeted by an outpouring of birthday wishes when she returned to the court moments after the game ended. Fans showcased a video made for her and sang the birthday songs. Zhu even had a bite of the birthday cake prepared for her. Though the intake of desserts is strictly monitored among professional players like Zhu, she didn't seem bothered by making an exception.

The scene was reminiscent of 2015 when Zhu celebrated her 21st birthday at Henan. It was from there that she embarked on a splendid journey on the court. At the time, Zhu was frustrated by her inability to help her club team win titles. Four years on and in the prime of her career, winning has become a habit.

China's national women's volleyball players were crowned FIBA World Cup champions in Japan in September, sending their reputation even higher. They were greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People and were rewarded with ringside seats at the grand parade to mark the 70^th founding anniversary of the country. They also participated in the shooting of a film chronicling the team's story. At the same time, as national captain, Zhu's reputation has also enjoyed exponential growth.

After she was named Most Valuable Player in China's title triumph at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the then 22-year-old Zhu chose to seek new self-improvement challenges abroad, leaving to play in Turkey's high-level super league. She stayed three years, returning this season to share her newly acquired skills with the national super league.

She also made a big decision to join Tianjin Bohai Bank, describing the move as another starting point in her career. Even though the Turkish league is superior in terms of the overall level, training methods and competitiveness, Zhu Ting chose to leave VakifBank in Istanbul without much hesitation in order to better prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

China's super league requires players to live together under centralized supervision. So, on October 17, Zhu checked in with Tianjin. Throughout the summer, she trained with the national team and didn't have much time to rest and adjust. Even so, Zhu soon adapted to the mode of playing in the league once it kicked off.

The environment may have changed but Zhu stays the same. She is the superstar spiker who is surrounded by fans after each training session. Even though some people think that the lower intensity and quality of China's league might hinder Zhu in her pursuit of higher goals, she responded firmly, "I may be superior to others at this stage, but it doesn't mean forever."

In the first phase of the super league play, the Tianjin female volleyball team is hard to emulate. With many national players on the team, they face few challenges, dominating the league's rankings from the beginning. They beat Guangdong Evergrande, capable rivals, twice. The head coach also admitted that they are hard to beat now Zhu Ting has joined the team.

When she came back home, some commentators said that given her influence and capabilities, she would inevitably inject new blood into the national super league. To be fair, her comeback could also decrease competitiveness. In that case, Zhu doesn't have to play full-time, given the glaring gap between other teams and Tianjin Bohai Bank. Concerns about whether this will affect Zhu's play and whether her time and intensity on court could be guaranteed have been raised.

However, such worries have proved unnecessary. Zhu has played in all six rounds since the super league kicked off, with a top-ranked 64% offense success rate. In the two games against her old team Henan, Zhu was in the starting lineup. She played with great commitment which showed respect. And when the dust settled, she handed over Tianjin specialties to her former Henan teammates, melting the whole court with warmth and caring.

What Zhu also needs to deal with now is what she can bring to the national team. Even though China's national female volleyball team claimed the World Cup and are ranked No. 1 in the world, the Tokyo Olympics is going to be their most important test.

When asked whether they can defend their title in 2020, Zhu answered with great calmness. She admitted that the team will face even more competitiveness than in Rio. Besides the silver medal winner Serbia, old rivals the United States, Italy who missed this year's World Cup, Brazil and Russia all are eyeing the most coveted gold medal in the game. 

In Istanbul, Zhu was a newcomer but her play and tactics would now have been studied by her opponents. We can't stop her opponents from making progress. We can only preempt in order to always have an upper hand.

What also concerns Zhu is injuries. Having witnessed many cases where a player can't play Olympics due to injuries, she hopes such a fate won't descend upon her. When asked what her most-wanted birthday gift is, she said, "no injuries."

Zhu Ting, who was born on November 29, 1994, has become a star in the real sense with 4 million fans on her social media account. She has become more famous and influential.

What is rare is Zhu never forgets what keeps her motivated. Many get lost in fame and applause, but she remains always the climber who never ceases. Her humility and stability blend with her status as a role model, helping her to welcome more and more contented supporters. The recognition is not only determined by her fame; it has more to do with her character.

On the court, Zhu is an invincible and dominant superhero. Off the court, she is just a 25-year-old who looks forward to getting attention from her idol.

She is living the prime days of her life, together with her fulfilling career. Every stride she takes forward represents a new chapter in life.

(Edited and translated from the sports channel of the official state broadcaster CCTV 5)