TOKYO, 23 May 2004 — Asian silver medalists China turned the tables on continental champions South Korea 3-0 in their opening game of the men’s volleyball final qualifying tournament for the Athens Olympics yesterday.
Zhang Xiang and three other veterans returned to the rescue of the national side, leading China to their first win in five years against South Korea with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 victory.
World bronze medalists France saved two set points in each of the last two sets to beat Australia 25-18, 30-28, 28-26, while Canada downed Iran 25-20, 25-20, 28-26. Japan were easy 25-14, 25-15, 25-18 winners over Algeria.
The tournament winners and the top-placed Asian team in the eight-nation round robin will travel to Athens.
“This is my first international competition since the previous Olympic qualification in Shanghai in 1999. I wanted to take part and the national team also wanted me to play, so I came back,” said Zhang Xiang, now 32.
“We prepared very well for the match against South Korea, because we lost to them so many times in the past years. We gave 100 percent today, everybody was calm mentally, I’m really pleased that all our effort paid off.”
Chinese coach Di Anhe said Zhang’s teammates An Jiajie, Zheng Liang and captain Wang Hebing had also not played for the national team since 1999 and had been coaching at their clubs. Di added that it was the first time that China had beaten South Korea since the Shanghai tournament in 1999.
Australia’s Argentine coach Uriarte Jon said experience was the difference between the two sides after France came through the two close sets.
Canada faced a late challenge by the Iranians and they missed two match points before saving two set points at 24-25 and 25-26 in the third set.
