China coach Wu Sheng looks on during the FIVB Volleyball Nations League match against Bulgaria in Gdansk, Poland on July 9, 2022. (Photo by Piotr Matusewicz/Xinhua)
China men's volleyball head coach remains sanguine about his team's hopes at the upcoming world championships.
BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese players will give their best to challenge the world's top teams in the 2022 FIVB Men's World Championship which starts on Friday, head coach Wu Sheng noted.
"We need to have a clear mind that we are a comparatively weak team in the world championships and will try to challenge our opponents in the matches," Wu told Xinhua on Tuesday.
The young team lifted the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup earlier this month, winning China's first title in the tournament in ten years. The coach said the victory brought joy and confidence for the players, but added that they were not overwhelmed by the emotions.
"Winning the AVC Cup brought the team closer together and makes the players more confident," Wu said.
"However, happy as they are, I believe my boys are able to keep a cool head after the AVC Cup victory. They are aware that there's a gap between the level of the AVC Cup and that of world-class events like the Nations League," Wu commented, pointing out that teams like Japan and Iran did not send their best players to the AVC Cup.
China celebrate after winning the 2022 AVC (Asian Volleyball Confederation) Cup final against Japan in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, Aug. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
After the AVC Cup, China flew to Serbia to prepare for the world championships. Wu said he was happy to see his boys healthy and in good form after a week of training, where they focused on improving serve and receive techniques.
Wu confessed that the team had many problems when they first assembled, but through playing in the Nations League, where China finished 13th, and the AVC Cup, there is "better cooperation and understanding between the players."
The coach also expressed gratitude to the Serbian Volleyball Association who provided full support when the Chinese team trained in the country.
Wu applauds his players during the 2022 AVC Cup final. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
China will play Turkey, Canada and Italy in Pool E in the preliminary phase. The top two teams in each of the six pools and four best third-ranked teams will make it to the direct elimination phase.
Discussing China's chance of advancing to the elimination stage, Wu said that he didn't want his players to think too much or put themselves under too much pressure.
"You don't make it out of the pool by thinking about it, but by winning point by point," Wu said. "I have been telling the players to go out there and give their best without burdens."
The world championships will be held from August 26 to September 11 in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, and the Polish cities of Katowice and Gliwice.
China's 14-man roster for the world championships is as follows:
Outside hitters: Zhang Jingyin, Yu Yuantai, Zhang Binglong, Wang Bin
Middle blockers: Peng Shikun, Li Yongzhen, Zhang Zhejia, Miao Ruantong
Opposites: Zhang Guanhua, Dai Qingyao
Setters: Yu Yaochen, Liu Meng
Liberos: Yang Yiming, Yang Tianyuan ■
