Hui Ruoqi sees 2026 Asian Games as key test for China's new generation

Former China volleyball captain Hui Ruoqi believes the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will provide an important test for the new generation of the Chinese women's volleyball team, telling CGTN Sports Scene's Jiang Mengxi that the defending champion has undergone significant changes since the previous edition, with many of the younger players experiencing the continental multi-sport event for the first time.

“Compared with the previous Asian Games, we can see that the Chinese women's volleyball team has undergone quite a lot of changes,” Hui said. “For the other young players, I think this will be their first Asian Games. It will be a completely new experience for them and, at this point, also a completely new test.”

China has made an emphatic start in Japan, winning both of its Group B matches in straight sets. The team opened its campaign with a 3-0 victory over the Philippines, taking the three sets 25-18, 25-22 and 25-8, before beating Kazakhstan 3-0 on Friday to finish top of the group without dropping a set.

However, for Hui, the results are only part of the picture. The former outside hitter is particularly interested in how China's developing squad takes shape in two key positions – setter and opposite.

“At this tournament, I'll probably pay more attention to two areas – the setter and opposite positions,” she said. “Looking to the future, how China's setters organize the attack will largely determine whether the team can fully bring its tactical system into play.”

Hui also pointed to the opposite position, where experienced Gong Xiangyu has been a fixture for China for years. She believes the Asian Games provide an opportunity to see whether another player can emerge as a long-term option.

The Asian Games came less than three weeks after China finished runner-up at the Asian Women's Volleyball Championship, where the team lost a five-set final to Thailand. The short turnaround gave China an immediate opportunity to demonstrate what it has learned from that campaign.

Hui said that progress, rather than simply comparing results, is one of the things she most wants to see in Aichi-Nagoya.

“This tournament comes quite soon after the Asian Championship, so what we want to see is how much the Chinese women's team have been able to adjust in that period,” she said. “Can they produce a more impressive showing? Can they learn and grow from the previous tournament and give us something new to be excited about this time?”