Coaches from Japan or South Korea will expect to direct Chinese national judo team from next March, an official said in Beijing on December 18.

Song Zhaonian, deputy director of the State Judo Administration hich governs the sport, said that China is in talks with judo associations of Japan and South Korea on the issue.

"Under the plan we have already made, foreign coaches will be working with the national judo team in March," Song said.

Song said the plan has been made by the Chinese Judo Association bidding to win more judo gold medals in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Chinese judokas achieved a historical feat by winning one gold, the silver and three bronzes in the Athens Olympic Games but still lagged far behind the Japanese, who took five in Athens.

"We should learn from the Japanese," Song said. "What should we learn from them? I think it's their techniques and training methods."

Song said the foreign coaches will be staying with the Chinese judokas for half a year or one year. But it depends on whether the Chinese have made instant progress."

Source: Xinhua