Shan Linqian channels champion’s drive from learner to leader in China’s U21 title defense

Shan Linqian rises above the net, arms outstretched, eyes fixed on the ball as the crowd roars in anticipation. The block lands clean, and her teammates swarm in celebration. For the 19-year-old middle blocker, moments like these are no longer a rare taste of the action, they are her new reality.

• Watch the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship on VBTV

Two years ago in Mexico, Shan was a 17-year-old who stayed from the sidelines, watching China’s veteran squad storm through the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship to lift the trophy. She rarely left the bench, but every point, every block, every celebration was a lesson.

At 1.94 meters tall and still one of the youngest on the roster, she is also the only returning player from that world champion team. Instead of observing, she is in the starting lineup, calling for sets, challenging hitters at the net and taking on a much larger share of the work in China’s title defense.

“In the previous championship, I just watched the team and learned from the older players,” Shan said. “This time, I feel a little pressure on me because I need to try my best to help the team to win the matches.”

The 2023 champions were stacked with established players in their age group, while the 2025 lineup is newer, still adjusting to the pace and pressure of a world stage. Shan’s experience links the two generations.

She says defending the title has a positive effect. “The World Championship win before and defending the title now, is a motivation for me and the team,” she said. “It gives us more motivation that helps our team go further.”

China have opened this year’s tournament in strong form, winning its first five matches to top its pool. Shan’s presence at the net has been part of a balanced team effort that has kept the defending champions on track.

Away from the court, she prefers a slower pace. She enjoys photography and traveling around China, capturing new places through her lens.

Her volleyball inspirations include Chinese middle blocker Yan Ni, a gold medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and Turkish middle blocker Zehra Gunes, whose dynamic presence she admires.

From a teenage reserve learning from senior teammates to a starter helping shape China’s run, Shan is determined to make her mark in 2025. “My goal is to win my own championship,” she said.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship: full schedule

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