“The Chinese women's volleyball team will put on a great performance amid the cheers and encouragement of the audience, and will do their best to achieve great results.”
Xu played as a middle blocker for the Chinese national team and officially retired in 2019 at the age of 31 due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury two years ago.
She won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2008 home games, followed by a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro eight years later, and boasts two Asian Games gold medals, one Asian Championship gold medal, and two Asian Cup wins.
The Nations League will feature 16 teams divided into two pools of eight teams each. The Nations League is recognized as an “M” marked event by the Major Sporting Events Commission.
The Hong Kong leg of the event is the third and final pool stage of the tournament and will host China, Turkey, Brazil, Poland, Dominican Republic, Germany, Thailand and Bulgaria. The remaining eight teams will compete in Fukuoka, Japan.
The tournament will be played over four weeks in five countries, including Hong Kong and Macau, with the top seven teams (plus host Thailand) advancing to the final round in Bangkok.
This year, 12 men's teams and 12 women's teams will compete for Olympic gold. Host France automatically qualifies, with Brazil, Poland, Germany, the United States, Japan and Canada already booked spots.
The remaining five spots will be chosen based on the world rankings, with Turkey currently ranked number one in the world.
Even if the Nations League ends at the end of June, one spot will be allocated even if no Asian team ranks in the top five.
China, last year's Nations League runners-up, is the highest-ranked team in Asia.
China-Hong Kong Volleyball Association President Wilfred Ng Saukei said the national team can also provide inspiration to Hong Kong's younger generation.
“We have hosted international volleyball like this.” [competition] In Hong Kong since the mid-'70s… and we've built really big support for the Chinese team,” Ng said.
“They are idols and role models for many Hong Kongers, so they will be very helpful in promoting the development of local volleyball.”
Sports Authority Director-General Sam Wong Tak-sam echoed Ng's remarks about China supporting the development of Hong Kong volleyball, saying such international sporting events can enhance Hong Kong's image. said.
“It can not only further promote the development of sports, but also enhance Hong Kong's image as a center for international sporting events and attract overseas tourists to Hong Kong.”