Though it has failed to reach the play-offs of the on-going world
championship, China has entered directly the last eight of the Asiad men's
volleyball event to open here on Sunday.
The Chinese team is making their final preparations for the games in Beijing
and it is expected to arrive in Doha on Nov. 28.
The newly-reshuffled men's team, led by the one-year-stand head coach Zhou
Jian'an, vowed to fight for honor in the games. They failed to make the
semifinals four years ago in the Busan games.
Host Qatar also enters the quarterfinals with four other world championship
participants of Japan, South Korea, Iran and Kazakhstan.
However, another 11 teams, including Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Taipei,
have to compete for two other seats for the quarterfinals.
"I can't say too much right now, but our team will try our best in the
games," said Radoslav Sviroev, head coach of Saudi Arabia, who led the team to
win the second place in the just-ended Arabian championship.
For Macao, who will open their campaign against Saudi Arabia, their journey
in the Asiad is more relaxing.
"We are not a professional team, so we don't have much pressure," said Liang
Yongtang, head coach of Macao. "We come here to enjoy each match and learn from
others."
All 47 matches of men's volleyball will be staged at the A-Rayyan Indoor Hall
in northwest suburb of Doha.