China will send its national beach volleyball team to the United States this week to get expertise from their American counterparts in bid for achievements at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The beach volleyball team will spend around six weeks in the United States training with top American coaches and playing friendly matches.

"Chinese volleyball association will pay more attention to beach volleyball this year to help the national team prepare for the challenge of the Beijing Olympics," national head coach Miao Zhihong said.

Americans Misty May and Kerri Walsh won the women's competition at Athens and team mates Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs took bronze.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2006)