Women's Soccer Kicks off Olympic Training

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Women's Soccer Kicks off Olympic Training

The Chinese national women's football team has begun preparations for next year's Athens Olympics, under the new coach Zhang Haitao.

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The Chinese national women's football team has begun preparations for next year's Athens Olympics, under the new coach Zhang Haitao.

Given China's low-profile performances at this year's World Cup and the retirement of several veterans, the national squad has decided to call in a group of promising young players.

The average age of the new team is less than 24, and seven players are under the age of 20.

The team also hired a new coach, 33-year-old Zhang Haitao, who met his players for the first time at their training camp in south China's city of Guangzhou earlier this week.

Inexperienced in coaching but professional in theory, the young head coach is emphasising many new training approaches from the off, with the focus on physical strength and stamina.

It has impressed his players including Han Duan,

"The new training method should improve my physical strength, which will undoubtedly help when we play against big European and American soccer players."

Although Zhang Haitao has never coached a women's team before, he believes his methods can be effective for the 40-day intensive training,

"I will set a good example for them in training. I'm very confident even though it takes time for my players to understand and learn."

China was the runner-up at the 1996 Atlanta Games; however, it finished a disappointing seventh-place at the Sydney Games.

China first has to qualify for the Athens Games. The Asian qualifiers will be held in Japan in April. (cri)

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