Olympic Outlook: Chinese Women's Volleyball - a Second Rate Team with First Class GoalThe victory celebration by the Chinese women's volleyball team are often seen only after they have defeated second rate or third rate teams.It is a disappointing fact that the Chinese women's volleyball team has become a second rate team, after winning five consecutive championships. Hu Jin, head coach of the women's volleyball team, has no patience with the Chinese women's volleyball team, which has bounced between the number four and eight spots in the rankings. He has no alternative but to win the gold at Sydney. Hu Jin and his new team have come very close to their goal. In the Switzerland International Women's Volley Competition this June, the Chinese team defeated first rate teams such as Cuba and Russia, winning the most important championship since Hu Jin became head coach again. The conservative Hu Jin has made the lofty prediction that the Chinese team would win Olympic trials before going to Sydney. But he was disappointed at the Olympic trials. Holland, which defeated the team in the 1992 Olympics, beat the Chinese team again. Some coaches who have worked with the team for many years, sighed, asking why has the Chinese women's volleyball team fallen to where they are today. After qualifying for the Olympics in a life or death situation, Hu Jin realized the Chinese team's real strength. He had to despondently accept the truth that the Chinese team is obviously not as good as first rate teams, such as Cuba, Brazil and Russia, and is weaker than Italy, which has improved quickly. The Chinese team is no longer the strongest team of the second rate teams. In the process of re-examining all aspects of the team's performance in the Olympic trials, Hu Jin realized that the team has no advantages except its past reputation. The attack of the main hitters has become weaker and weaker. The lack of steady passing is Hu Jin's biggest worry because it has diminished the threat of his quick change tactics. Overnight, its as if the team has become a monster, not as strong as the western countries in strength and height, and not as good as the Koreans and Japanese in defense and skills. Hu Jin's ability to coach has been doubted. The newspapers have criticized him for "not understanding the scoring rules in women's volleyball today" and "wrong training methods." Hu Jin, who has devoted his life to volleyball, is faced with the most serious lack in confidence since he became coach. Regardless, the Chinese team escaped from a disaster. According to a traditional Chinese saying "there must be good fortune after a disaster," which proved to come true in the Olympic drawings. The Chinese team will be in the group with Australia, Brazil, Croatia, America and Kenya. Except for Brazil, which has not played well lately, the Chinese team has some advantages over the rest of their opponents. It is difficulty to say whether the groupings are good or bad. The condition of top eight teams will be more important than the rankings in the group. Because Cuba, Russia, Italy are in another group, it is possible for China to meet one of the three teams in the quarterfinals. The Chinese team chances of beating any one of those teams are very low, so the Chinese team will probably not be in the final four. The team has finished training in Zhangzhou and have entered in the World Women's Volleyball Contest. This contest is the last opportunity for the team to warm up before the Olympics. |
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