[Beijing Daily] Iron Hammer Coach Brings a Heated Volleyball Market

Source: Beijing Daily 2009-12-02

The news The second round of contest of 2009-2010 National Women s Volleyball League (Group B) started yesterday. Guangdong Evergrande commanded by Lang Ping beat Fujian Ximengbao with 3-2 by reversing the match in Xiamen, winning two successive victories. Compared with the first round against Hebei in Baoding, Lang s arrival made it difficult to buy a ticket. As said by some audience, We came for Lang Ping, rather than the game.

In the past the venue of Group A was unfrequented, let alone that of Group B which belongs to a lower level. But Lang s arrival this year has made the unconcerned Group B much more attractive. One has to admit her admirable charm and popularity. In the first round of contest last Saturday, the Iron Hammer s marker rallying was testified in Baoding which is the home of Hebei Team: Last season Hebei s home matches were all free, but at that time Baoding Stadium was still vacant enough; while a ticket cost 50 yuan this season, about 4000 people rushed for the match in an attempt to appreciate the mien of the Iron Hammer .

And at last the fans of Hebei even turned to Lang, supporting Evergrande. No wonder that Zhou Suhong, a veteran who joined Evergrande this season, said emotionally, The atmosphere of the home game was not even so heated when represented Zhejiang in Group A league in the past.

In this way the depressive Group B league rose up quickly to be even more heated than Group A due to Lang s participation. Last night there was no vacancy in the Xiamen Stadium which can hold 2800 persons. Each good performance of Evergrande was followed by applauses with charged bar. When the five games finished, the audience did not leave reluctantly because of the home team s loss, instead they stood up, shouting iron hammer with applauses.

Fans in the front lines couldn t wait any more and rushed into the court, surrounding Lang with cameras, paper and pens, and asking for signature and photographing. To ensure the timely media interview, safeguards had to move forward to protect Lang despite the fact that some expectant fans would not withdraw, wandering about with no intention of leaving.

Besides the enthusiastic fans, Evergrande has much more media concern than any of the domestic strong teams in the past. said an official from Volleyball Management Center of National Sports Bureau who is responsible for media application for the league, and his office has never been so crowded these years. There were nearly 200 reporters from all over the country for the first round of contest, and CCTV Sports Channel also unprecedentedly broadcast live Evergrande s away game.

Before the competition, there was a hot topic of He-Ping talk from the media-Chen Zhonghe, the former coach of Chinese National Team and now the vice director of Fujian Sports Bureau, came to Xiamen from Fuzhou in purpose. However, he was not to supervise the contest as the leader of Fujian Women s Volleyball, but to meet his old friend Lang.

The two friends had a communion in the hotel where Lang stayed and had dinner together after match. In the past due to the fact that they were coaches of Chinese Team and American Team respectively, their encounters at the venue were called He-Ping battle by the media. And now with their respective retirement from the position, the battle fades away but the He-Ping talk is generated.

Apparently where there is Lang, there is highlight, even if it is simply an ordinary meeting with old friends.