Withy young boys from China beat Thai contestants in boys' volleyball finals on Monday, last day of the four-day 40th International Children's Games hosted by Bangkok of Thailand, by scores 25:18 and 25:15 in a three-set match.

The Chinese boys, with an average height of over 180cm, bears little resemblance to the "blooming little angels" as the Games' motto call the young athletes, and they did fight with mature skills as adults, though it was the first time they gave performance on an alien land.

The Chinese team representing Zhenjiang, a city in eastern Jiangshu Province of China, were engaged in the short, fierce final contest with Thai boys from northeastern Thai province Nakhon Ratchasrima, after beating compatriots from Hong Kong, China in semi-finals earlier Monday morning.

The Thai team also beat a fellow team representing host Bangkok before entering the final. They failed to seize the title before a Thai audience and a cheering squad in yellow T-shirts, worn by most Thais on Monday to pay tribute to the Thai Royal family. To their comfort, Thai girls secured a gold in the girls' volleyball final held earlier on the day, with the team of Thailand's Khon Kaen province beating the one from Ayutthaya by 25:20 and 25:17 in a successive two-set win.

Dozens of young athletes from China's Hong Kong and Macao, though either team harvested no gold, have been hopping to cheer out "Show your strength, Chinese team!" for their fellow boys in the field, and offered warm hugs for the winners.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)