Women's water polo: Every game a struggle

To make a strong run for the gold, the Chinese team must perform very well in the group matches and fully mobilize the whole team.

In the 2007 Melbourne World Championships, the Chinese women's water polo team ranked the 14th; and in the Beijing Olympic Games, the fifth. However, in the 2011 Shanghai World Championships, the Chinese team, after beating Spain, Canada and Russia, lost to Greece 8:9 and finished second.

The Chinese Women's water polo team's profound progress owns debt to its Spanish coach Juan Jane Giralt, whose motherland men's water polo team has won two Olympic gold medals. Giralt took up the post of the head coach of the Chinese women's water polo in November 2007, propelling the team to a top worldwide ranking.

In London, eight teams will participate in women's water polo. To make a strong run for the gold, the Chinese team must perform very well in the group matches and fully mobilize the whole team.

Women's beach volleyball: Xue, Zhang poised for upset

The Chinese pair Xue and Zhang, although a serious contender to the American and Brazilian pairs, lacks international competition experience.

The Chinese men's and women's soccer teams and the men's volleyball team failed to qualify for London. The Chinese men's and women's basketball, the women's volleyball and the double men's beach volleyball, although able to gain entry to the games, are not expected to medal. Women's beach volleyball remains one of last remaining medal hopes in net sports. Double players Xue Chen and Zhang Xi placed third at both the Beijing Olympic Games and the 2011 World Championships. The pair now ranks second worldwide, next to the Brazilian pair Larissa and Juliana, the 2011 world champions.

In the London women's beach volleyball, 24 pairs were selected. America and Brazil both have two pairs, with all four pairs placing in the world top five. American players Kerri Walsh and May-Treanor were crowned in the past two successive Olympic Games. The other pair Jennifer Kessy and April Ross ranked the fifth in the 2011 World Championships, the same as the other Brazilian pair Maria Antonelli and Talita Antunes.

The Chinese pair Xue and Zhang, although a serious contender to the American and Brazilian pairs, lacks international competition experience. If allowed a semifinal appearance, the pair may be poised to upset spectators with an underdog victory.