American Treshan McDonald, incumbent head coach of the Chinese Olympic softball team, is confident of her disciples' performance in the upcoming Athens Olympic Games.

The 45-year-old told Xinhua Monday that her women players were ready to give their best performance in Athens when she attended the flag-raising ceremony as a member of the Chinese delegation.

"As two-time and reigning Olympic champion, U.S. is certainly a strong team and we must try very hard, but we are ready for the competition," said MaDonald.

McDonald took the helm of the Chinese team only last January, under the recommendation of the International Softball Federation.

During her six-month spell, the former one of the American best pitchers has already produced positive changes to the Chinese team, especially their pitching skills, according to Chinese Softball Association president Hu Jianguo.

"She has a high sense of responsibility, and she works very hard although she will leave after the Athens Games," Hu said.

McDonald declined to foresee the Chinese team's result in the Games.

"All the eight teams are coming here for the gold medal," she said, "And what I predict is that we will perform very well."

The U.S. Olympic delegation will also have its national flag raised on Monday and McDonald will not go.

"I'm the head coach of China. I'm with my team," she said.

China finished runner-up in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Four years later, the Chinese overcame the Americans in the group match before the champions took their revenge in the elimination round, and China eventually ended in fourth.