IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Volleyball

Zhao, Feng's return boosts China's Olympic prospects

XIAMEN, East China: Star volleyball players Zhao Ruirui and Feng Kun finally returned for an impressive performance during the women's volleyball friendly series against Cuba in Xiamen, Fujian province.

China received a much-needed morale-booster by winning all three matches as the team was able to grant competition time to some of the younger players.

In the third match, China's head coach Chen Zhonghe fielded many replacements including wing spiker Li Juan, teenage setter Wei Qiuyue, middle blockers Xu Yunli and Ma Yunwen, and opposite Liu Yanan.

While team captain Feng, who has just returned from a leg injury sidelining her for much of 2007, was rested all through the match, and comeback spiker Zhao, out of action for three-and-a-half years due to knee injury, only played in the first two sets.

"I am so glad Feng and Zhao are still able to keep high-level form," Chen said. "They played high-quality volleyball in the first two matches. They have been out of action for a long time, so I gave them more time on the beach in the third match.

"I sent many young players onto the court and gave them more experience. They did a good job," Chen added.

Currently there are a total of 19 players on the Chinese side, out of which only 12 can make the final roster for the Beijing Olympics.

Taekwondo

Chen looks to win third gold at Beijing Olympics

World champion and double Olympic gold medalist Chen Zhong expressed on Wednesday that she would try to add a third gold to her taekwondo tally on August 23 at the Beijing Olympics.

"As everybody anticipates, I hope to defend the title at the Olympics. And now I'm trying to achieve this goal with a detailed training plan," said the 26-year-old Chen.

"Observing foreign players' performances at this event is also one part of my job," Chen told reporters during the ongoing Good Luck Beijing International Taekwondo Invitational Tournament, an Olympic test event that has drawn 128 athletes from 27 countries and regions, the same number that will be at the Olympics.

Chen, who is yet to get fully fit from the injury, did not compete in this tournament.

Miscellaneous

Tibet mountaineering team sponsored before torch relay

Zhengzhou-based Baixiang Food Group has officially signed with the Tibet Mountaineering Team as part of its efforts to encourage China's best mountaineers to successfully take the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch to the peak of Mount Qomolangma.

From 1993-2007, the Tibet Mountaineering Team conquered 14 mountains that are more than 8,000m above sea level, a feat none of the world's other teams have ever achieved.

According to the deal, Baixiang Food, a domestic instant-noodles giant, will be the only provider for the team members during their training at the Mount Qomolangma's base camp and torch relay.

"2008 is a special year for us, and it's the greatest honor that we take the task to relay the torch to the peak of Mount Qomolangma," said team captain Samzhub.

"We are very grateful for the sponsorship from Baixiang Food Group. It means people in different fields pay attention to our efforts and are very supportive for our future work."

(China Daily 02/29/2008 page23)