WARSAW, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The coach of Poland's men's volleyball team Nikola Grbic said on Friday that his players are ready to fight for Olympic qualification in China.
On Saturday, the European champions and the gold medalists of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League will begin their campaign against Belgium in Pool C of the Olympic qualifying tournament to be held in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
In Pool C, they will also face hosts China, Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands. Two best teams will secure the tickets for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"We are ready. We must forget about the successes we achieved this year as we face new challenges. The Olympic qualifying tournament is crucial for us. I'm aware of the fact how important matches we will play in China," coach Grbic said in an interview with Polish media.
Poland are seen as favorites to win the tournament. However, Grbic warned his players to expect a challenge.
"It won't be easy to qualify for the Olympic Games. Our main opponent will be our weak points, not the players on the other side. If we maintain our level, we will win, but we started the training camp on May 8, and now it's the end of September. It's difficult to keep a high level for a long time," the Serbian added.
"In the last three matches of the 2023 men's European Volleyball Championship, we showed our maximum potential. We had patience and we put pressure on our rivals in key moments. I hope in China we will do the same," Grbic concluded. ■
