Coach: We are down but not out

Coach Kim Sang-ryul gestures to Chinese players during their final game against Australia at the International Field Hockey Tournament on Monday. Australia won 9-0. Yang Shizhong

Losing to a visiting team in a humiliating 9-0 title game drubbing is nothing but a disaster for any tournament host.

But not necessarily according to China's men's field hockey coach Kim Sang-ryul, who tried to look on the bright side after his side's thrashing at the hands of Australia in the final of the men's competition at the "Good Luck Beijing" International Tournament.

"Australia just showed us what is the world's best field hockey," Kim told China Daily after the match.

"This is a lesson and this is a good lesson.

"I think my players start to realize how far they are behind the world top level."

Uncharacteristic optimism had descended on the Chinese men's team after it took the scalps of several top-ranked teams in the past two years.

Under Kim's coaching, the players developed from hockey nobodies to world-beaters. They showed their ability by winning a silver medal at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and a four-nation invitational in May.

Confidence levels soared even higher after China's first two matches of the tournament when they came back from 2-0 down to tie with world No 5 Pakistan and 1-0 to beat world No 16 Malaysia 2-1.

Media even predicted a win against Australia in the final even though China, ranked 17th in the world, lost to the Kookaburras 6-1 in the last group match after both secured a place in the final.

However, overcoming the world's No 2 team proved to be mission impossible.

The Aussies showed they were a class above with superb ball control, speed and team play. They took a 2-0 lead in the first half and demolished the Chinese defense in the second:scoring seven more. By contrast, the hosts hit just two dangerous shots among several flurries.

"Look at how they moved the ball and how they played together," Kim sighed. "They taught us many things."

Thanks to the Beijing tournament, China met Australia for the first time - a rare match up in a sport where lowly ranked teams barely get an opportunity to play top flights.

"It's very important to get experiences on playing against top teams before Beijing Olympics," Kim added.

His players promised they would perform better next time around.

"I am disappointed with the result today," team captain Hu Huiren said. "But no one knows what will happen in the future.

"As we keep improving, I promise we will take everything back."

Kim, who guided South Korea to World and Olympic silver medals during his 12-year tenure, regards his current role as "the biggest challenge of his career".

"I believe China can become as successful as Koreans," he opined.

Despite the loss in the title game, China showed it could surprise the world during the 2008 Games.

"The progress China made in the last two years is significant," Australian head coach Barry Dancer said. "It has forced us to watch them closely in the coming years."

(China Daily 08/16/2007 page22)