Unbeaten China under no pressure ahead of World Grand Prix Finals in Sapporo

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Unbeaten China under no pressure ahead of World Grand Prix Finals in Sapporo

(Xinhua) 08:15, August 27, 2013

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Coming into the final round of the 2013 FIVB World Grand Prix as the top finisher and only unbeaten team in the preliminaries, China, guided by legendary coach Jenny Lang Ping, was under no pressure facing challenge from the best teams in the world.

"Despite the results we got in the preliminary round, we still have a lot to improve and work on," said Lang Ping, who has led her side to 15 victories in a row including all nine matches in the World Grand Prix preliminary rounds since taking the helm of the national team again in April.

"We are very happy to make the final round and it will be a great opportunity to learn from the best teams in the world. Brazil, the United States and Japan won the gold, silver and bronze medal at the London Olympic Games while Serbia and Italy are very strong teams from Europe. We are under no pressure at all. We'll just try our best and see what happens."

As China is preparing for its second encounter in two weeks with European champion Serbia on the first day of the final round on Wednesday, Brazil will meet the United States for the third time after the final of the London Olympic Games and the preliminary round, where the Brazilian women won through 3-1 both times.

"Every time it's difficult to play against them, we need high concentration, we need to serve well and the relation between the blocking and defense has to be perfect to try to stop them. But we have to play and we have to enjoy the game," said Brazil head coach Jose Guimaraes, who coached his side to consecutive Olympic titles in Beijing and London.

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