South Korean Kim Changback and Kim Sang Ryul have extended their contracts with the Chinese field hockey teams to lead the squads at the Beijing Olympics.

The national field hockey administration announced on Friday, revealing Kim Changback will direct the women's team in the hunt for a medal at the Olympics, while Kim Sang Ryul is expected to lead the men to the round of eight.

The hockey administration previously hesitated on Kim Changback's extension as the coach failed to bring China to the top six at the World Cup last October in Madrid, Spain. The loss made them unqualified for the Champions Trophy tournament in mid-January in Argentina.

But the deal was revived after the Kim-guided Chinese women defended their title at the Doha Asiad, where his compatriot Kim Sang Ryul took the men's team to a highest ever runner-up.

Kim Changback will fly for Argentina to watch the Champions Trophy, while Kim Sang Ryul will join his team in Guangzhou for a winter training camp.

(CRI.cn January 13, 2007)