Chinese Men Getting Ready

The Chinese volleyball team are being put through their paces in preparation for the Olympic Volleyball tournament. Although not the favourites for the Olympic Volleyball tournament they are aiming for top 8. More at FIVB

Beijing, China, August 4, 2008 - The Chinese Men’s team appeared at their first open training session Monday afternoon at the newly-renovated Capital Indoor Stadium.

The lineup of captain Shen Qiong, spikers Cui Jianjun, Yuan Zhi, Yu Dawei, setter Jiao Shuai and libero Ren Qi is highly possible to be the team’s starting one, almost the same squad for China at the recent World League tournament.

During the 90-minute training, the team, all in their newly-designed red and white jerseys, were divided into two groups with the main squad all on one side.

“The guys are all in good shape and we’re happy there is no serious injuries now,” said Song Weiping, the team’s doctor.

Head coach Jianan Zhou seems to be more relaxed while dealing with media than his counterpart Zhonghe Chen, Head Coach of the Chinese Women, who kept quiet throughout the team’s first training session at the other competition venue, the Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium, also on Monday afternoon.