Struggling men's team

Although the Chinese men's volleyball team made headlines by winning the 2022 Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup in August, the squad still need to make a big leap forward to close the gap with the world's elite teams and become more competitive on the global stage.

The Chinese men's volleyball team's only highlight throughout 2022 was the victory at the AVC Cup in Thailand. The triumph ended China's 10-year wait to top the podium at the Asian Volleyball Confederation tourney.

However, three straight group stage defeats at August's FIVB Men's World Championship not only left Team China languishing at the bottom of Pool E, but also last place in the overall ranking of the 24-team world championship. That showed just how far the men's team is away from becoming a medal contender at a major international tournament.

"There is still a huge gap between Team China and the world's volleyball powerhouses. It's not just about skill. It's about our physical condition, overall strength and our understanding of the sport. Such high competitiveness and intensity is unthinkable within our domestic league," Team China's head coach Wu Sheng told Xinhua.

"In a team sport like volleyball, it's not just about one player. There are so many details regarding the attacking and defensive sides of the team. There is so much work to be done to improve. The gap is comprehensive, and we failed to meet our expectations."