After a disappointing 2006 China's women's volleyball team is determined to make a fresh start and get the defense of its Olympic crown back on track.

Authorities shook things up when they cut a number of high-profile players from the most recent squad announced earlier this month, prompting concern from fans that calling on inexperienced players so close to the Beijing Games was a risk too far.

The sport's chief official was swift to put these fears to rest.

"There were reports saying we dropped some veteran players because we'd relied on them too much in the last couple of years," Li Quanqiang, vice-president of the China Volleyball Association, told China Daily.

"But that does not mean we had to gamble on youngsters after an unsuccessful season.

"It is true that some of the new faces in the team only have two or three years' competition at their clubs.

"But they have great potential and we have set specific training plans for them. As well as the remainder of 2007, we also have five months of training and competition in 2008. We will do everything possible to lift them to a new level."

The team became national heroes after their dramatic triumph over Russia in the final at the 2004 Athens Games.

Some of the shine has been taken off the achievement by the slump that has followed. The team could only manage 5th at the world championships and grand prix series last year.

They were beaten five times out of eight bypowerhouses Russia, Italy and Brazil last year, and even lost to Germany and the Netherlands for the first time in history.

These setbacks forced the coach and officials to make some changes.

Veteran return

The biggest is the return of veteran spiker Zhang Yuehong, who smashed the winning shot in Athens. If she can hold down her place she will become the oldest player in Chinese volleyball history to appear at the Olympics, aged 32.

"Zhang has been impressive in the domestic league. She is fit and in form. I do not think her age will be a problem for her," head coach Chen Zhonghe told Titan Sports.

"If she keeps her hot form in training and competition, there is no reason she won't be at the 2008 Games."

After the national team's stuttering performances in 2006 it was little surprise Chen recalled the inspirational Zhang.

Powerful teenager Wang Yimei still needs time to polish her skills, while spiker Chu Jinling lost form and has been dropped.

Chen insisted that the door is not closed for Chu.

"Chu's absence does not mean we have got rid of her. I sent a message to her and am encouraging her to hold on and work even harder.

"Actually she is one of the key spikers we want to develop. She is still improving. But due to her emotional personality, she has failed to be consistent. I hope she will adapt herself in the future."

Apart from veteran Zhang, the new players are all youngsters. Inexperienced setters Wei Qiuyue and Han Xu will look to step in for Feng Kun, who is recovering after surgery in the United States.

"I know we've had to hurry choosing young setters for the team. But I think we still have time to develop the young players. I hope we will get some surprises from them after a year's training and competition."

Meanwhile, another volleyball official has claimed that the sport's governing body made a mistake by thinking that Chinese women are able to play at a peak level until the age of 28.

Xu Li, director of the Volleyball Administrative Center of the State General Administration of Sports, said that governing officials and the coaching staff, including himself, had believed the Athens winning team could compete until the 2008 Beijing Games.

System problems

"But it proved to be a big mistake after a disappointing 2006, resulting in too many injuries and hence the unsatisfactory performance," Xu was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency. "It put a dent in the team's defense at the Beijing Olympics.

"Players from America or Europe can still stay in form until 28 or so, but Chinese women's volleyballers might only hit top gear between the age of 24 and 26 due to our training mode and Asian physique," he noted, adding that the idea was the accepted view of experts.

Chinese women's team have retained the core of the Athens team, but starters Feng Kun, Zhou Suhong, Yang Hao, Liu Yanan and Zhang Na will all be above 26 in 2008.

"We had planned to build up a stronger team in 2006, but now it is time to start from zero. The team is facing an uphill task before 2008," Xu said. "We need a younger squad for the Olympics."

"The team also had tactical problems in 2006, putting too much emphasis on strength, which is an advantage for European and American teams, at the detriment to speed and agility," he added.

Official Li echoed Xu's opinions, and said a change was needed in the country's grassroots volleyball system.

"We start professional training too early. Chinese volleyballers are usually selected around aged 10 and are trained too hard. Physically demanding training causes injuries to pile up," said Li.

"We should change selection methods. We should allow small kids to enjoy sports in school and start selection at a proper age."

Alongside Feng on the treatment table are Zhao Ruirui and Zhang Ping.

The revamped team will leave for south China's Zhangzhou, Guangzhou and Binzhou for three months of training before competing at the Four Nations Tournament slated for late May in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

(China Daily March 20, 2007)