Ding Hui (volleyball)

Ding Hui (Chinese: 丁慧) is a Chinese volleyball player of South African descent who plays libero for Zhejiang volleyball club, and the Chinese national team. He is notable as the first black athlete to be selected for a Chinese national team in sports.^{[2] [3][4]}

Ding's appearance as a black player on the national sporting scene is not new, as many players in the football Chinese Super League are black; nor is he the first non-racially-Chinese person to represent China at international events. However, he is unique in that he is a black Chinese national representing a Chinese national team, and 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 Jian'an (周建安), was irritated by the number of calls he received inquiring Ding's family background. Zhou dismissed most of these calls, saying that he "fit requirements established by the Chinese Volleyball Association" and that Ding's background is a "private matter."^[5] He is said to be preparing for the 2012 London Olympics.^[5]

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