Li Quanqiang, director of the Chinese volleyball administrative center, visited Lang in Chicago after her surgery.

"The most important thing for Coach Lang is to recover from surgeries, and we had a very good talk. I am sure she would return as China coach," Li said.

Although she declines to be the Chinese volleyball chief herself, Lang is certain that Yao Ming will do a good job as the basketball president.

"Yao has NBA experience, and he is young, sagacious and courageous," said Lang. "I believe he and his colleagues will push Chinese basketball to a new level."

China is planning a deepening reform on domestic volleyball leagues, like expanding the duration to five months, adding more matches and teams, bringing in playback system and restoring all-star games.

"With more teams and more professional players, the national teams can have more choices," Li said.

Li disclosed that China will bring in a foreign coach for the men's team, as they missed both the London and Rio Olympics.

"The search for a high-level foreign coach is going on," Li said.

Lang calls for an expansion of the volleyball-playing population in China, especially on school campus.

"China should also attract more teenagers to play volleyball, just as Italy, the United States and Brazil do," Lang said.