Chinese national women's team lost 62-47 to Japan on Sunday in the opening of the 2008 Wheelchair Basketball International Invitational Tournament, a Good Luck Beijing sport event, held in the National Indoor Stadium.

Wheelchair basketball is still struggling to gain popularity in China. Although the Chinese women's team took part in two wheelchair basketball preliminaries for the Paralympic Games, they failed to enter the world's arena. As the host country, China has booked a spot and undergone a half-year-long training.

Players compete during the 2008 Wheelchair Basketball International Invitational Tournament, a Good Luck Beijing sport event, in the National Indoor Stadium on January 20, 2007.

Japanese athletes, who moved swifter on the court, led the first half 28-25. China rallied and gained a 31-28 lead in the beginning of the second half. However, Japan overcame the three points deficit and led the third set 45-37.

"We did a good job. The team carried out strategies very well. But it is a young team and it is the first time for them to compete in the Paralympic Olympics. The tournament will be a tough experience for China," head coach Liu Tiehua said, adding that China will train harder in the future to better deal with Japan's defense tactics.

China's Fu Yongqing shots during the 2008 Wheelchair Basketball International Invitational Tournament, a Good Luck Beijing sport event, in the National Indoor Stadium on January 20, 2007.

Chinese athlete Zhang Santao said China played a good game but it did not get used to Japan's defense tactics. "I feel very sorry to lose the game."

China will set up a clash against European powerhouse Germany on Monday evening.

Eight teams from six countries will participate in the competitions. China, Canada, Germany and Japan will each send a women's team, while the men's teams come from China, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia.

(BOCOG January 21, 2008)