Tokyo, March 31, 2006: Chinese Taipei have set their sights on a place in the second round of the women's World Championships, despite being drawn in the same group as Asian powerhouses Japan and Korea.
"First of all, to beat Korea and Japan is our most important job," the President of the Chinese Taipei Volleyball Association, Wang Chao Chin, told the World Championships official website.
"Besides, we have to be aware of Poland, Kenya and Costa Rica, who are unfamiliar to us.
"Qualifying for the second round is our realistic target, but our team still needs to strengthen in every aspect. That's why we plan to travel abroad for a training camp and to take part in international tournaments."
Chinese Taipei must finish in the top four of Pool A, based in Tokyo, to advance to the second round.
Ranked 23rd in the world, they are a long way behind Asian rivals Japan (seventh) and Korea (eighth), and lost in straight sets to both these teams at the Asian women's championship in Taicang, China, last September. Chinese Taipei eventually finished fifth in the 12-team field, behind China, Kazakhstan, Japan and Korea.
"Every step is very important for us," added Wang.
"All our players have been in the national team from a young age, and if they learn something from every training session and every competition they can promote our volleyball level."
Chinese Taipei's 16-strong training squad, with club and position, is: Lin Chun Yi (Bei Ti, centre), Chen Mei Ching (Shih Ta, centre), Tseng Hua Yu (Shih Ta, centre), Tsai Yin Feng (Taiwan Power, centre), Yeh Hui Hsuan (Chung Shan, spiker), Juan Pei Chi (NTUE, libero), Weng Yu Chuan (spiker), Liu Li Fang (Shih Ta, spiker), Lin Ching I (Shih Ta, spiker), Wu Ko Jou (Taiwan Power, spiker), Wu Hsiao Li (Shih Ta, setter), Chen Hui Chen (Chung Shan, setter), Kou Nai Han (Bei Ti, spiker), Szu Hui Fang (Shih Ta, spiker), Chen Chia Chi (NTUE, spiker), Chen Shu Li (Chung Shan, spiker).
Note: Bei Ti = Taipei Physical Education College; Shih Ta = National Taiwan Normal University; NTUE = National Taipei University of Education.
