CHN W: She’s a hero! Rio gold medalist Changning highlights Jiangsu despite father’s sudden illness (VIDEO)

Changning

Tianjin achieved eighth win in a row in the national league, including regular season, by overpowering Beijing 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) in a derby of Top 8’s Round 2 to get 2-0. Serbian Brankica Mihajlović and Chen Liyi shared top scorer title in the winning team with 15 points each. U.S. import Kelsey Robinson topped Beijing’s scorers with 15 points as well.

Another two teams with 2-0 are runners-up Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Zhejiang stretched their winning streak to 12 games by beating Sichuan in straight sets mostly thanks to 25 points from Li Jing. Australian Rachel Rourke had 18 in Sichuan.

Liaoning had a good opening against favorites Jiangsu to get first set in their favor, but succumbed to stronger rivals in th next three. Chinese vice-champions had five players scoring double figures, led by Zhang Changning – Gong Xiangyu duo that scored 50 points combined, more than half of their team overall: 26 and 24 respectively. Yan Ni collected 18 in Liaoning.

After the match, Jiangsu’s best scorer Zhang Changning was silently sitting on the bench, waiting for a call from a hospital where here father underwent kidney surgery, previously beeing in dialysis treatment. But, despite this, 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist patiently answered all fans’ requests for autographs and taking photos, like a true sportsman.

Ba’yi signed up their first victory in Top 8 after downing Shanghai in three sets.

REGULAR SEASON – 37 / GROUP 1ST-8TH PLACE – 288 / 2ND ROUND – 17

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