FIVB president fancies China's chances

International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) president and China's volleyball guru Wei Jizhong said yesterday he believes the country's women's team will be able to defend its Olympic title in Beijing.

He said reaching the semis would be a big hurdle for the troubled team, which suffered a series of humiliating defeats during a tune-up event last month, but it would be unstoppable after that because of its great record of performing on the big stage.

"The team can win the Olympic title provide it makes it into the semifinals," said Wei, who replaced Ruben Acosta as the federation president in June, although his official four-year term will start straight after the Beijing Games.