Jianan Zhou is to remain as the Chinese Men's head coach |
Beijing, China, March 23, 2009 – Former Chinese national team player Jianan Zhou has put pen to paper on another term as head coach of the men’s national team, the Chinese Volleyball Association announced at a press conference on Monday.
Head coach Zhou said his main goal during his new four-year term will be to earn a place at the London Olympic Games in 2012. He also vowed to lead the Chinese to gold at the 2009 Asian Volleyball Championship and claim a berth at the 2010 FIVB World Championship.
The 45-year-old Zhou became Chinese men’s head coach in December 2005.
During his playing career, Zhou was a member of the Chinese youth team in 1987 and joined the national team the following year. He and his teammates clinched gold medals in the 1990 and 1998 Asian Games, the Asian Champions Cup in 1997 and 1999 Asian Volleyball Championships, the best-ever results claimed by the Chinese men's team.
Zhou was the team's captain and considered one of the best setters in China. He left the Chinese national team in 1999 and became the head coach of the Sichuan Provincial men's Volleyball team until he was named head coach of China Men.
Under his coaching, the team improved its results. China finished seventh in the 2008 FIVB World League, compared to ninth in 2007 and 13th in 2006. In 2006, they placed second at the Doha Asian Games and in the 2008 Olympic Games the Chinese team made a historical breakthrough by finishing joint fifth with Bulgaria, Poland and Serbia.
The other Olympic showing by the Chinese men’s team dates back to 1984, when China appeared at the Los Angles Games as the replacement team and finished in the last place of eighth position.
Jianan Zhou factfile:
April 17 1964: Born in Sichuan province
1979: Selected to Chongqing youth team of Sichuan province
1982: Selected to Sichuan provincial team
1985: Selected to Chinese national youth team
1986: Selected to reserve team of Chinese national team
1987-1999: Chinese national team player
May 1998: Named as head coach of Sichuan provincial team
Dec. 27, 2005: Named as head coach of Chinese national team
Results as player:
1st – 1990 Asian Games
1st – 1997 Asian Championship
1st – 1998 Asian Games
1st – 1999 Asian Championships
Results as coach:
2nd – National Games in 2001
7th – National Games in 2005
2nd – Doha Asian Games in 2006
5th – Beijing Olympic Games in 2008
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