Yao Di met the members from Tianjin University Volleyball teams at Tianjin Art Museum and appreciated the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Exhibition there together. Later, Yao went to Tianjin University’s gymnasium on Weijin Road Campus where her appointment ceremony was held.

Han Jiajun, the Party Secretary of the Sports Department and Wu Jinke, the director of the department, attended the activity.

Born in 1992 in Tang-gu District, Tianjin, Yao Di started playing volleyball when she was 9 years old. She was a setter of Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team guided by Lang Ping and made great contributions to China’s victories in Women’s Volleyball Asian Cup, Women’s World Cup of FIVB and other important competitions. At present, she is a member of Tianjin Bohai Bank Women’s Volleyball Team.

At the appointment ceremony, Secretary Han, on behalf of the university, delivered a welcoming speech. “The Chinese people will always be proud of our Women’s Volleyball Team. They won great honors for the country,” he said, “Our young students should learn from them, who always fight for national honors with superb teamwork and a hardworking and unremitting spirit. “

Han hoped that the school team, under the guidance of Yao Di, could advocate spirit the national Women’s Volleyball Team displays and live up to it not only in training, but also in their lives and studies.

Han then issued the letter of appointment to Yao Di on the spot. Yao expressed her appreciation and shared her own experience with the school team. She said that she owed her success much to her coach Lang Ping, who helped her overcome many difficulties and stay confident. Yao also presented the students a precious gift—a volleyball with signatures by members of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team and encouraged them to stay committed to volleyball practice and their dream in spite of any difficulties.

Most of the players of TJU volleyball teams were fond of volleyball when they were kids and some of them have practiced it for ten years. In 2019, the school women’s volleyball team won the champion in University Volleyball Association of Tianjin and men’s team took the third place in it.

Liu Jing, a postgraduate student from the School of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering and a member of the university’s Women Volleyball team, said, “I learned a lot from today’s communication with Miss Yao. We will never flinch in the face of difficulties, but embrace them head-on in our life and study. I hope we can achieve good results in the upcoming University Volleyball Association.” Another member Chu Jiayao from the School of Civil Engineering also expressed her excitement for the interaction with Yao Di and visit to the exhibition. She thought that young people should master professional knowledge and cultivate practical skills, integrating personl dreams into China’s development.

By Zhang Qingluan

Editor: Eva Yin