Ding Hui (volleyball)

Ding Hui
Personal information
Nationality  China
Born 24 June 1989
Hangzhou, China
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Volleyball information
Current club Zhejiang[1]
National team
China CHN

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

Ding's appearance as a black player is unique in that he is the first Chinese national, with black African ancestry, 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]

References

  1. ↑ "National volleyball team gets first black player". China Daily. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "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. ↑ 5.0 5.1 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.