Chinese volleyball 'goddess' returns, world tournament shakes

Beloved "Saintess" of Chinese volleyball

Besides her outstanding volleyball talent, Li Yingying is also loved by Chinese fans because of her very... Jin Yong name, reminiscent of the saintly character Ren Yingying in the novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer .

Many mainland fans have therefore nicknamed Yingying the "saint" of Chinese volleyball, especially for her "sharp as a knife" playing style and her unique appearance.

The Chinese national team's star striker suffered an ankle injury in early 2025, has passed the treatment and recovery period, and returned to the national team in the official call-up.

This information was confirmed by China Volleyball Updates : "The star who has won many prestigious awards - Li Yingying has officially returned to the Chinese women's team after a long absence."

Li Yingying is not only a talented player, but also a key attacking icon who has left many teams' defenses helpless with her powerful and skillful smashes.

Yingying's hometown is in Heilongjiang, and her appearance is not inferior to that of Northern Chinese men, famous for her strength, fighting spirit, and tall stature.

Yingying is 1.92m tall, has a 302cm offensive jump and 294cm blocking ability. Over the years, she has always been an irreplaceable factor of the Chinese team, a world- class star.

The arduous journey back

In early 2025, during a match in the Chinese National Championship, Yingying suffered a serious ankle injury - specifically a navicular bone injury, a complex and often time-consuming position in elite sports .

Experts at that time predicted that Yingying would hardly return in time for the World Championship.

Yingying soon underwent surgery at Peking University Third Hospital, according to Tianjin TV Sports.

After the surgery, the 25-year-old striker continued to endure pain and recover in a long rehabilitation room.

In early March, Li returned to her hometown of Tianjin to continue her treatment and recovery. By the end of April 2025, she was able to limp back onto the training field.

News of Li Yingying’s return immediately shook the volleyball world. Volleyball World commented: “Li Yingying’s return makes China a strong candidate for the medal podium.”

The return of the 25-year-old striker has even helped China surpass the US and Japan, rising to the same level as Serbia to become the second favorite to win the tournament. According to many bookmakers, the odds for Italy - the current number one team in the world - to win the championship are 9/1 (bet 1 win 9), while Serbia and China are on par - around 1/12.

Currently, the Chinese team is still cautious. A source within the Chinese team said: "We will carefully evaluate Yingying's recovery status before deciding on her specific role in the tournament."

Yingying will likely play a reserve role in the group stage matches, before returning to full fitness for the next important rounds.