The FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championships is getting underway, and one of the standout contests is going to be hosts Zhejiang taking on Turkish outfit Vakifbank on Tuesday night.
All eyes are on that particular match because the game marks the return of Chinese national team captain Zhu Ting on her home soil.
Eight teams will take part in this year's tournament, which comprises the champions of each continent amongst others. This is the first time that China will host the event.
Zhu Ting (rear R) of Vakifbank in action during the Vestel Venus Sultans' League play-off final volleyball match between Eczacibasi VitrA and Vakifbank at the Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, April 26, 2018. /VCG Photo
Zhu has played for the Istanbul side for the past three seasons. This is also her maiden appearance in her home country representing the Turkish club. The 24-year-old is drawing attention as one of the more well-known players on the team after her MVP performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she led China to a historic gold medal.
Her club coach, Giovanni Guidetti, is looking forward to the challenge on Tuesday night, and although Zhu declined to speak to the press after training, her boss is excited at her homecoming.
Guidetti said, “We are lucky to have Zhu Ting because she is a great player and, probably, the best player in the world, and we are lucky because Zhu brought us a lot of Chinese fans with her. They are so nice to us.”
He added, “This is a difficult competition and there are some teams which are very, very strong. But if we can have support from the fans, we may play even better.”