Tokyo, March 22, 2006: The new head coach of China's
men's team, Zhou Jian'an, has announced a squad of 18 players for this year's
World Championships in Japan and Asian Games in Qatar.
The 18 include former captain Zhang Xiang, who has been recalled to bolster China's attack.
"It is an honour to be back in the national team again," said 35-year-old Zhang. "I hope I can help the young players with my experience."
Zhou, who was a national team player from 1987 to 1999, took over as head coach on December 27 from Di Anhe, who had resigned a week earlier after being in charge since 1999. Di's last tournament was the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup in Japan in November, when China lost all five games to finish last in the six-team inter-continental championship.
Zhou's squad will start a training camp on March 26 to prepare for a series of warm-up matches. The Chinese team will participate in a four-nation international invitation tournament in May and then play World League Pool C games against Italy, Russia and France in July and August.
The new coach, previously in charge of the Sichuan provincial team, intends to finalise his World Championships 12 after the World League.
Drawn with Japan, Argentina, Poland, Egypt and Puerto Rico in Pool A at Saitama, China's target is to finish in the top four and qualify for the second round.
Zhou, a former setter, is also aiming to reach the final of the Asian Games in December, and for a top-10 finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The 18-strong squad includes points machine Tang Miao, who was the fifth best scorer in the Grand Champions Cup with 74 points, libero Chu Hui, who was the best digger, and Shen Qiong, the best receiver and joint 13th in the scoring chart with 50 points.
The full squad is: wing attack, Hu Song, Guo Song, Sui Shengsheng, Shen Qiong, Zhang Xiang; setter, Li Chun, Zhou Hong, Kang Kang, Jiang Fudong; middle blocker, Wang Haichuan, Yu Dawei, Wang Jin, Xie Wenhao, Guo Peng; opposite, Tang Miao, Yuan Zhi, Jiang Kun; libero: Chu Hui.
