Chinese Women start preparations for upcoming competitions

China Women, here competing in the 2008 World Grand Prix, have started training ahead of this year's competitions

Beijing, China, – The revamped Chinese Women’s national team have begun their 50-day intensive behind-closed-doors training camp at the Southern training center ahead of the start of the international season.

China head coach Bin Cai, the former head coach of the Chinese Women’s Youth team known for his intensive training and tough coaching style, said on the first day Monday, “Chinese Women’s Volleyball has a glorious history, claiming many excellent results in major international competitions and the Chinese  people also have great hope for us.”



“My team is facing a great challenge. However, our youth team has already achieved much glory and it is my job and responsibility to make sure we keep this tradition going in the senior team with win after win.



“I will apply hi-tech and smart tactics to train young players and to create a team with intelligence. We will try to conquer any difficulty and are confident to clinch good results,” said Cai.



Li Xu, Director of the Volleyball Center of the General Administration and Vice-President of the Chinese Volleyball Association, has set the aims for the new team. He told the team on the first day of the training that although it is a new team with a new coach and many young players the main aim is to win at least one medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.



For this, the team will participate in at least two major international events every year in the coming four years: the Asian Championship, FIVB Grand Champions Cup and FIVB Grand Prix in 2009; the Asian Games and FIVB World Championship in 2010; the Asian Championship and FIVB World Cup in 2011, hopefully booking a berth for the 2012 London Olympic Games along the way.

“The Chinese women team must win the gold in Asian competitions and try their best to finish top three in FIVB events,” said Xu.