The powerful Cuba struggled to find their pace when they overcame the depleted China 3-1 in the World Cup women's volleyball tournament in Okayama, Japan on Wednesday.

The Cubans, who snatched consecutive two triumphs in the Olympic Games and in the world championships respectively, met massive fight-back from the resistant Chinese before they grab a 27-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21 win.

Registering the tournament without five of their starters, China squandered the best chance in the first set when Cuba saved two set

points at 24-all. Yumilka Ruiz struck a winner to take the set.

The Cuban women picked up their firing guns in the following set before they found they were trailing at 13-9 in the third and could not recover to wrap up the game in straight set.

On the World Cup debut match against Cuba for coach Hu Jin, the Chinese put themselves back into the game at 18-all though the Cubans took a 3-0 lead in the fourth set. But the younger Chinese failed to score an upset against their experienced rivals.

China also spoiled their chance to take the first set when they led 24-23. But the Asian champion failed to gained the two set points and saw the Caribbean team scored three points to led 1-0.

Cuba remained unbeaten so far in the round robin preliminary round along with Russia, Brazil and Japan on two wins, while China, South Korea, Croatia and Italy had a 1-1 win-loss record each in the 12-team competition.

China's coach Hu Jin said: "Unfortunately, we could not take advantage of the mistakes the Cuban team made, but anyway, I'm pleased with this match."

Brazil crashed Peru 25-17, 25-15, 25-16, while Croatia took an easy win over Tunisia 25-7, 25-15, 25-10. European champions Russia edged off South Korea 25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23 in Tokyo, and wild card entrants Italy defeated Argentina 22-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-9. Hosts Japan staged an exciting come-from-behind victory to beat the United States 20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13. (Xinhua)