China names women's handball head coach ahead of world championship

Wang Xindong became the first Chinese head coach in eight years of the national women's handball team when the Chinese Handball Association (CHA) named on Tuesday the squad for the 2009 World Championship.

"The team consists of 19 players, five of whom competed in the Beijing Olympic Games last year," said Meng Wei, CHA vice president.

Wang, who worked as an assistant coach during the Beijing Games and helped China to win silver in 2008 Asian championship as interim head coach, is charged with a task of qualifying for the 2012 London Games.

"I am familiar with Chinese handball as well as these players. I think this is my advantage to take up this position," said the 42-year-old Wang.

"We will learn from European teams, but first of all we need to form our own style," he added.

The Chinese team, who finished sixth in the Beijing Games, faces an uphill battle at the world championships slated for Dec. 5-20 in east China's Jiangsu province, according to Meng.

"Several seasoned players retired after the Beijing Olympics. This is a young team and there are seven teenage players. They have no international competition experience," he said.

"We don't expect this young squad to achieve a high place. They just need to try their best."

Source: Xinhua