Ding Hui (volleyball)

Ding Hui
Personal information
Nationality China
Born (1989-06-24) 24 June 1989
Hangzhou, China
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Spike 330 cm (130 in)
Block 320 cm (126 in)
Career
YearsTeams
2009 - 2013Zhejiang
2017 - presentBeijing
National team
2009 - 2010China

Ding Hui (Chinese: 丁慧; pinyin: Dīng Huì) is a biracial Chinese volleyball player currently playing for Beijing BAW.[1] Ding is notable as the first black athlete to be selected for a Chinese national sports team.[2][3][4]

Ding is the first person with Black African ancestry representing a Chinese national team. His selection to the team garnered widespread media attention, with some commentators saying he 'redefined race in China.'[2] The coach of the national team, Zhou Jianan, was irritated by the number of calls he received inquiring Ding's family background. Zhou dismissed most of these calls, saying that he "fits the requirements established by the Chinese Volleyball Association" and that Ding's background is a "private matter."[5] He prepared to play at the 2012 London Olympics but ultimately was cut from the team.[5]

In his personal life, Ding is very popular among his teammates. He is a little shy but soon would become the favorite of everyone. "He's also a great singer and dancer and he brings more passion to the game than the other players," said Wang Hebing, the head coach of Zhejiang Volleyball team.[6]

In 2012, Ding left Zhejiang men's volleyball team and went to study abroad before the new season started because "there's no future of this sport in China." He returned to China for some training, then returned to the U.S. He acted as a part-time volleyball coach.[7]

Ding began playing volleyball for Warner University in 2014.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "北汽男排引入双外援主攻 前浙江自由人丁慧加盟". China. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  2. 1 2 "How Volleyball and Pop Have Shaken China's Idea of Race". China Digital Times. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  3. ↑ "China calls up its first black athlete". Daily Telegraph. London. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  4. ↑ "China Welcomes Chinese-African Player to National Team". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  5. 1 2 浙江男排中非混血儿丁慧被选中 国家队有了黑娃. Chengdu Evening Times (in Chinese). 14 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "National volleyball squad gets first black player". 中国网. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "China's volleyball players in no-win position". Chinadaily. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Hui Ding - 2015 Men's Volleyball". Warner University.
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