Yuan was selected to represent Jiangsu province in the volleyball competition of the first National Games in 1958 while studying at Nanjing Sport Institute.

While he was not persecuted because of his peasant background which was considered politically reliable at the time, his team members were sent home.

[citation needed] In 1976, Yuan was appointed head coach of the women's national volleyball team.

Yuan was promoted to vice-minister of the Sports Commission at age 36, and was elected as a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in 1985.

[citation needed] Yuan was appointed to lead the Chinese Football Association after the disastrous 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification finish.