We have come here to learn from India: Chinese team manager

Chennai, Aug 28 (UNI) China, who could be the bete noire of host India, against whom they open their campaign, do not consider themselves to be among the favourites in the seventh Asia Cup Hockey Tournament to be played here from August 31 to September 9.

One gains this impression going by what Zhao Xiaoyu, Vice-President of the Chinese Hockey Association says about the team. ''Pakistan, India, Korea and Japan are the strong contenders,'' Zhao, who is also the manager of the team said ''We are here to play good hockey and prepare for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We have a lot to learn from teams like India, Pakistan and Korea,'' he said.

Asked about the performance of the team in the Doha Asian Games, where they shocked India, Zhao said he would still not consider China as a strong team.

''Luck played a part in that victory,'' he said on the 3-2 win over India at the Asian Games.

Asked about the secret of the success, Zhao said ''it's difficult to say. Our boys are working hard under coach Kim Sang Ryul. Kim is taking it step by step.'' He said the Association was fully backing Kim to take the team forward.

Ryul, who had joined the team as the first coach, on a four-year contract in 2004, was away in Manchester to observe the teams at the Euro Hockey Nations Championships, which decide the European qualifiers for the Olympics 2008, he said.

It may be recalled that the Korean coach in charge of the Chinese team was here 20 days before the Champions Trophy hosted by Chennai in 2005. They had played practice matches with some of the teams figured in the event then. They even lost the matches to the local sides too. But exactly after a year, the Chinese defeated the Indians in the Asian Games and went on to win the silver medal in the Games.

''Coming to Chennai at the time of 2005 Champions Trophy, we were preparing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. We could not achieve that. But we were able to achieve good results at the Doha Asian Games,'' Zhao averred.

Asked if hockey has gained in popularity back in China after the victory, he said the victory had influenced the youngsters, albeit not in a big way. ''Still the game is not popular,'' he added.

He also said ''expensive equipment'' was also one of the reasons for China's youth not taking up the game. ''Most of the hockey equipment like the goalkeepers' gears and the sticks are expensive for the young Chinese.'' he said.

Asked about the selection of players for the national side, Zhao said they do not have many to chose from. ''We have a national pool of 300 to 400 players to choose from. Our league is not strong'', he said.

UNI