Ding Hui
Personal information
NationalityChinese
Born (1989-06-24) 24 June 1989
Hangzhou, China
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight80 kg (176 lb)
Spike330 cm (130 in)
Block320 cm (126 in)
Career
YearsTeams
2009 – 2013Zhejiang
2017 – 2018Beijing
2018 – presentShanghai
National team
2009 – 2010China

Ding Hui (Chinese: 丁慧; pinyin: Dīng Huì) is a Chinese professional volleyball player currently playing for Shanghai Men's Volleyball Club. Ding was the first Chinese athlete of African descent to be selected for a Chinese national sports team.[1][2][3]

Ding's selection to the team garnered widespread media attention, with some commentators saying he 'redefined race in China.'[1] 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."[4] He prepared to play at the 2012 London Olympics but ultimately was cut from the team.[4]

In his personal life, Ding is "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.[5]

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.[6]

Ding began playing volleyball for Warner University in 2014.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "How Volleyball and Pop Have Shaken China's Idea of Race". China Digital Times. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "China calls up its first black athlete". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "China Welcomes Chinese-African Player to National Team". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  4. 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. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "National volleyball squad gets first black player". 中国网. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "China's volleyball players in no-win position". Chinadaily. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hui Ding - 2015 Men's Volleyball". Warner University.
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