"The spirit of the Chinese women's volleyball team represents the spirit of the nation in an era that strongly resonates with the utmost efforts made to fight for the rise of the Chinese nation," President Xi Jinping said when meeting with the representatives of the players and coaches of the Chinese women's volleyball team in Beijing on September 30, 2019.

In 1981, the Chinese women's volleyball team beat Japan 3-2 and won the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) Women's World Cup for the first time.

They went on to clinch gold medals at the 1982 World Championship, the 1984 Olympic Games, the 1985 FIVB Women's World Cup and the 1986 World Championship. The victories promoted and boosted patriotism and morale among the Chinese people.

Xi said people love the women's volleyball team not just for the champions' victories, but for the unyielding spirit which the team demonstrated "in fighting for the glory of the motherland through united and coordinated efforts."

Xi called for carrying forward the fighting spirit that the Chinese women's volleyball team has shown to build the nation into a sports power.