Beijing, China, April 12, 2006 : The Chinese women's national team is undergoing hard and extensive training for this year's World Championships in Japan with a series of warm-up matches.
After a closed training camp lasting 45 days in a volleyball center in Hunan province, the team went to the southern province of Guangdong to play against men's teams from universities, the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan, and Hong Kong as they did in past years. In eight warm-up matches, the Chinese girls had a record of three wins and five losses.
Chen Zhonghe, head coach of the Chinese team, said the main purpose of playing against men was to examine and evaluate the results and effectiveness of the closed training camp, and to improve teamwork.
Chen said: "On the whole the girls performed quite well and I am satisfied with the team's performance, especially with the young players."
However, Chen admits he is facing two main problems. One is that some key players are still recovering from injuries they suffered last year that required operations. The other is that both the veteran and young players are not in a consistent and stable form. They may make unnecessary and unforced errors, which are unexpected.
The Chinese coach has warned that the level of other teams is getting higher every day. For example Brazil, who won the World Grand Prix and World Grand Champions Cup in 2005; Italy, who beat China three times last year; the United States, who are making tremendous progress under the coaching of Lang Ping; Cuba and Russia. They are all China's strongest opponents, and any one of them has the chance to win the world crown, according to Chen.
"Though there are many difficulties, China will stick to the target set earlier this year: to enter the top three and try our utmost to clinch the title if possible at the World Championships. We will try to improve our shortcomings in the second stage of the closed training camp and prepare fully for the coming busy competition season," Chen noted.
Prior to the World Championships, which start in Japan on October 31, the Chinese team has a busy agenda. This includes four international tournaments, starting in May in China and continuing with the Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland, the President's Cup in Russia and the World Grand Prix in August and September.
After the eight warm-up matches, the Chinese team immediately went to another volleyball center for more closed camp training.
China, who won the women's World Championships in 1982 and 1986, will play Russia, Germany, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Azerbaijan in Pool B, based in Sapporo.
1) China's No. 5, Chu Jinling, goes up for a spike in a practice match against a men's team.
2) Head coach Chen Zhonghe conducts a training session.
3) China's No. 4, Liu Yanan, looks hungry for points in a practice match.
