With a timely win of 3-2 over the United States and the return from injury of Zhao Ruirui, the Chinese women's volleyball team restored confidence in its build-up for the Athens Olympic Games.

The 1.92-meter Zhao Ruirui is back. Though the towering spiker has not fully recovered from leg injury which forced her out of competition for more than four months, the Chinese team at least has its full-strength line-up back.

With the same line-up, the Chinese won the world title for the first time in 17 years when they triumphed in the 2003 World Cup.

Zhao's return is a psychologic boost to the team's morale which can help the women spikers forget the disappointment of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

China finished fifth four years ago as it was beaten 3-0 by the United States in the quarterfinals. Former head coach Hu Jin resigned shortly afterward.

Hu's successor Chen Zhonghe formed a totally new team in 2001 and clinched his first major title three years later.

China will start as one of the favorites in the Olympics, along with Brazil, the United States, Russia, Italy and Cuba, who are all at the same level.

Unlike the 2003 World Cup, this time Chen will have to rely on his playmaker Feng Kun for the matches.

"Zhao is now back to the team," said Chen, "but after a four-month absence, I don't think we can expect much from her."

Zhao plays an indispensable role in China's fast-attacking style of play. She was the MVP of the 2003 World Cup where China finished a 17-year-long world title drought. Without Zhao, China lost to Cuba 2-3 at the Four-Nation Challenger last June.

The good news for Chen is his captain Feng Kun's excellent form in recent competitions. "Feng is not only a setter, she is also an important attacker in China's team," said Chen, "She initiates all the attacking and sets the ball to the best places where other players can make an excellent spike."

China is blacketed in Group B with the United States, Russia, Cuba, Germany and the Dominican Republic in the Athens Olympics.

They will face serious challenges from at least five teams, the United States, Russia and Cuba in Group B, and Brazil and Italy of Group A.

Italy is anxious to erase its bitter memory of being eliminated in the group stage four years ago while Russia is trying to shrug off its doomed fate that being best attacking team, it has never won a major world title.

Nikolai Karpol, head coach of Russia, said he was confident of beating China and the United States in the Athens Olympics.

"Of course I'm confident. We've been targeting to win a medal in every world championships and the Olympics."

However, neither Italy nor Russia has impressed so far in Olympic warm-up events in 2004, a sharp contrast to the United States.

But the American team, who finished third in the 2003 World Cup to join China and runners-up Brazil in the Olympics, remains cautious about its future in the Olympics.

"We must play better overall to beat China," said U.S. head coach Toshiaki Yoshida.

His remarks were echoed by his Chinese counterpart Chen Zhonghe,"The United States is very tough with good fast-attacking and firm defense, it is always hard to play against the Americans, especially in the opening game," said Chen.

China will play its first group match against the United States in the Athens Olympic Games.

"But we are afraid of nobody," said Chen, "If we want to win the gold, we have to beat anyone standing on our road."

"I believe in my players and I'm confident we will go all the way in the Games," said Chen.

Chen's optimism is supported by team manager Li Quanqiang, "The players have steadily improved since the team was established in 2001. And the World Cup victory last year boosted our confidence. We also know better our rivals. So our goal in the Athens Games is to win the title, nothing less."

Last time China won an Olympic gold medal is at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Source: Xinhua