China's national women's volleyball team has set up the World Championship crown as its New Year's resolution. According to a report in Tuesday's China Sports Daily, Xu Li, head of the Volleyball Administration Center, says the women's team will face a big challenge at the upcoming world championships.

Women's volleyball has entered a multi-power era as the number of title contenders has risen from three to six and now eight teams.

China will face Dominique, Russia, Germany and Azerbaijan in Group B at the world championships. It won't be easy for China to win in the group stage, let alone in the finals.

However, a medal, even the title, is not out of reach, according to the official.

For the men's team, the Asian Games final should be a realistic target.

The newly reshuffled men's team, lead by new head coach Zhou Jian'an, will play the world championships and Asian Games this year.

China will be happy if the team can finish in the first 12, since the world championships comprise the world's top teams.

But when it comes to the regional tournament, the Asian Games, the men's team is required to reach the final.

The sports authorities have also attached great importance to beach volleyball.

China, as the host nation of the 2008 Olympic Games, has automatically secured a berth in the men's and women's events respectively.

But China is eyeing to have one more pair in each of the events. To reach that goal, three more coaches have been added to the coaching team and players have regrouped to get the best combination. The national team will travel to the United States to visit a one-and-half-month training camp to learn from the world's best.

(CRI English February 7, 2006)