After a disappointing 2006 China's women's volleyball team is
determined to make a fresh start and get the defense of its Olympic
crown back on track.
Authorities shook things up when they cut a number of
high-profile players from the most recent squad announced earlier
this month, prompting concern from fans that calling on
inexperienced players so close to the Beijing Games was a risk too
far.
The sport's chief official was swift to put these fears to
rest.
"There were reports saying we dropped some veteran players
because we'd relied on them too much in the last couple of years,"
Li Quanqiang, vice-president of the China Volleyball Association,
told China Daily.
"But that does not mean we had to gamble on youngsters after an
unsuccessful season.
"It is true that some of the new faces in the team only have two
or three years' competition at their clubs.
"But they have great potential and we have set specific training
plans for them. As well as the remainder of 2007, we also have five
months of training and competition in 2008. We will do everything
possible to lift them to a new level."
The team became national heroes after their dramatic triumph
over Russia in the final at the 2004 Athens Games.
Some of the shine has been taken off the achievement by the
slump that has followed. The team could only manage 5th at the
world championships and grand prix series last year.
They were beaten five times out of eight bypowerhouses Russia,
Italy and Brazil last year, and even lost to Germany and the
Netherlands for the first time in history.
These setbacks forced the coach and officials to make some
changes.
Veteran return
The biggest is the return of veteran spiker Zhang Yuehong, who
smashed the winning shot in Athens. If she can hold down her place
she will become the oldest player in Chinese volleyball history to
appear at the Olympics, aged 32.
"Zhang has been impressive in the domestic league. She is fit
and in form. I do not think her age will be a problem for her,"
head coach Chen Zhonghe told Titan Sports.
"If she keeps her hot form in training and competition, there is
no reason she won't be at the 2008 Games."
After the national team's stuttering performances in 2006 it was
little surprise Chen recalled the inspirational Zhang.
Powerful teenager Wang Yimei still needs time to polish her
skills, while spiker Chu Jinling lost form and has been
dropped.
Chen insisted that the door is not closed for Chu.
"Chu's absence does not mean we have got rid of her. I sent a
message to her and am encouraging her to hold on and work even
harder.
"Actually she is one of the key spikers we want to develop. She
is still improving. But due to her emotional personality, she has
failed to be consistent. I hope she will adapt herself in the
future."
Apart from veteran Zhang, the new players are all youngsters.
Inexperienced setters Wei Qiuyue and Han Xu will look to step in
for Feng Kun, who is recovering after surgery in the United
States.
"I know we've had to hurry choosing young setters for the team.
But I think we still have time to develop the young players. I hope
we will get some surprises from them after a year's training and
competition."
Meanwhile, another volleyball official has claimed that the
sport's governing body made a mistake by thinking that Chinese
women are able to play at a peak level until the age of 28.
Xu Li, director of the Volleyball Administrative Center of the
State General Administration of Sports, said that governing
officials and the coaching staff, including himself, had believed
the Athens winning team could compete until the 2008 Beijing
Games.
System problems
"But it proved to be a big mistake after a disappointing 2006,
resulting in too many injuries and hence the unsatisfactory
performance," Xu was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency. "It
put a dent in the team's defense at the Beijing Olympics.
"Players from America or Europe can still stay in form until 28
or so, but Chinese women's volleyballers might only hit top gear
between the age of 24 and 26 due to our training mode and Asian
physique," he noted, adding that the idea was the accepted view of
experts.
Chinese women's team have retained the core of the Athens team,
but starters Feng Kun, Zhou Suhong, Yang Hao, Liu Yanan and Zhang
Na will all be above 26 in 2008.
"We had planned to build up a stronger team in 2006, but now it
is time to start from zero. The team is facing an uphill task
before 2008," Xu said. "We need a younger squad for the
Olympics."
"The team also had tactical problems in 2006, putting too much
emphasis on strength, which is an advantage for European and
American teams, at the detriment to speed and agility," he
added.
Official Li echoed Xu's opinions, and said a change was needed
in the country's grassroots volleyball system.
"We start professional training too early. Chinese volleyballers
are usually selected around aged 10 and are trained too hard.
Physically demanding training causes injuries to pile up," said
Li.
"We should change selection methods. We should allow small kids
to enjoy sports in school and start selection at a proper age."
Alongside Feng on the treatment table are Zhao Ruirui and Zhang
Ping.
The revamped team will leave for south China's Zhangzhou,
Guangzhou and Binzhou for three months of training before competing
at the Four Nations Tournament slated for late May in Ningbo,
Zhejiang province.
(China Daily March 20, 2007)