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The latest 2005 Youth Girls'
Under 18 World Championships news |
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Youth Girls' World Championship News
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Big Fan cheers up China
 Macau,
China, July 31, 2005 - A 1.90-metre player is nothing
special in the Volleyball world. But at 13 years old? And a
girl. And in Asia. Well, that's nothing special either in
the Fan household in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province
on China's east coast.
Despite China's lowly seventh-place finish in the ninth FIVB
Girls' U18 World Championship, there's been a few bright
spots. Notably the powerful, inspirational performances of
wing spiker Fan Linlin.
The FIVB started this girls' youth championship in 1989, and
two editions had already been completed when Fan was born on
December 1, 1991.
She will not turn 18 until 2009, so is eligible to play in
the next two youth world championships. A frightening
thought for the world's emerging blockers -- although Fan
has set her tall sights even higher. Like the 2008 Olympic
Games in Beijing.
Pic: China's Fan Linlin doesn't even need to get off the
floor for her block against USA
"If I work hard and continue to improve, I still think I
have a chance of making the team," she said, with a beaming
smile, and without a trace of arrogance.
"I am training seven hours a day with the August 1st Army
club in Beijing, and world championships like this in Macau
are giving me valuable experience of international
Volleyball.
"My family support me in everything I do because they love
Volleyball, too, so I will try to fulfill my dream and play
for the national team of China."
And about that height. How tall does she think she can get?
"I would say maybe two centimetres more, that's all. About
1.92.
"My father is 1.92 and my mother is 1.82, and I started
playing Volleyball when I was 10 because of them.
"I became much taller than my classmates, and my parents saw
I had talent for Volleyball, so I joined the Army club.
"But I don't think height is the most important thing. I
don't have to become much taller. I have to improve my
technique and my mental strength."
When she was younger (younger than 13, that is), Linlin says
she planned to study hard and attend university.
But then she just grew and grew, and her goals changed to
Volleyball, although she still loves to read Chinese
literature at school.
Looking back on her Macau experience, she says: "The people
have been very warm towards the China team, and this has
helped us play some exciting games.
"But we are a young team and do not have the international
experience." Suddenly, the 13-year-old is beginning to talk
like a veteran. |
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