NOVEMBER 12, 20 DAILY PAGE 7 Glory days may be over in volleyball

WOMEN’S TEAM APPEARS TO BE IN DECLINE AFTER A DECADE OF DOMINATION ON WORLD STAGE

By CHEN XIANGFENG CHINA DAILY

BEIJING — Chinese fans got used to watching the women’s volleyball team gaining glory on international stage while the nation’s basketball and soccer teams struggled. However, the glory days may be at an end. Th e women’s volleyball team, which dominated the world by winning World Cup, World Championship and Olympic titles in the 1980s, hit rock bot- tom at the just-concluded World Championship when it failed to reach the quarterfi nals. It was a huge blow to its prepa- rations for the Asian Games. China has won the past three Asian Games titles but a series of setbacks in international compe- titions and trouble between the players and coaches have cast increasing doubts over its chances of defending the crown. China has struggled since winning gold at the 2004 Athens Games. Th e team has seen a num- ber of head coaches come and go amid rumors that the national players are divided into two groups and have no respect for each other or the coaches. “Both the players and I have huge pressure coming into the games,” said coach . TORU HANAI / REUTERS “Women’s volleyball has a glori- China’s Wang Yimei spikes the ball against Japan’s Megumi Kurihara during their second-round match at the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World ous tradition and the fans have Championship in Tokyo on Nov 6. high expectations of us. We have PAST RECORD no choice but to win the title in China would not successfully Apart from ROK, China will Similar to European players, >> ASIAN GAMES Guangzhou,” Yu said. defend its title in Guangzhou. also have to play up to its best Iranians boast superior height, “But we have to face the truth CCTV commentator Hong against dangerous teams like strength and jumping ability MEN that there are some problems in the Gao said China lost most of its Japan and Th ailand. over their Asian opponents and 2006 Silver team. We have some veterans with awe aft er a 3-0 group loss to Rus- won the Asian Championship 2002 4th injuries and young players who are sia at the World Championship. Bigger challenge for men in August by beating China in 1998 Gold not consistent on the court.” “We have no superior spike or The China men’s volleyball the fi nal. China now seems to be paying advantage at the net. We have lost team faces greater difficulites Japan, which boasts six Asian 1994 Silver for its lack of effort to develop the defense and the techniques in against key rivals Iran, ROK and Championship titles and one 1990 Gold young players after the 2004 set-up and transition. We have Japan. Olympic gold medal, is a tradi- 1986 Gold Olympics and has apparently lost everything that our former “There are four to five teams tional powerhouse in the conti- 1982 Silver lost its overwhelming advantage team used to boast,” Hong said. which have the chance to win nent and goes fl at out every time 1978 Bronze in Asia. China’s slump has boosted hopes the title,” said head coach Zhou it meets China. 1974 Bronze “We are no longer in the world’s of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Jian’an. “China is one of them Japan advanced to the second elite club any more. We are strug- standing atop the podium. and aims to win.” round of last month’s World gling and slumping,” said Yu. “We are growing up and the gap China, which has won three of Championship while China was WOMEN The nation’s biggest setback between China and us is getting the past nine Asian Games titles, knocked at the group aft er three 2006 Gold came in last year’s Asian Cham- smaller,” said ROK head coach, was defeated by ROK at the last straight losses, fi nishing in a his- 2002 Gold pionship final, where it was Park Sam-ryong, whose side Asiad in Doha and now fi nds Iran toric low 19th place. 1998 Gold shocked by Th ailand. beat China at last week’s World and Japan are rising rapidly and will “You have to take the pressure 1994 Silver According to a poll on Championship. “The chance to now present other hurdles. being a coach. We didn’t play 1990 Gold sports.sina.com.cn, China’s lead- beat China is right ahead of us. Previous Asian Games had good at the World Champion- 1986 Gold ing portal, half of the respondents We have the confidence to win been dominated by the East ship. But we compete on home 1982 Gold said the women’s team was no at the Asian Games. We plan to Asian trio of China, Japan and soil at the Asian Games and longer a world powerhouse. beat every opponent and take the ROK, but rising Iran is set to must win the championship,” 1978 Silver One third of respondents said Asian Games title.” buck the trend. said Zhou. 1974 Bronze