ZHENGZHOU, China, June 24 (Xinhua) -- "I believe she'll try her best to fight to play in the round of 16 tie against Italy." said Wang Ruijin, father of Chinese striker Wang Shanshan who injured in China's 0-0 tie with Spain in their last Group B game last Monday at the FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Wang Shanshan resumed training on Saturday in preparation for the game against Italy on Tuesday, but it's uncertain that she make it back in time.

"When I saw she fell down and held her right ankle, I was very scared. But she told me that the pain was not so serious next day. I know she is very strong." Wang Ruijin said.

The 29-year-old striker is a integeral part of the Chinese attack with her pace and trickery.

"She has been good at sports from primary school, she could run faster than boys in both short and long race. But she played volleyball at that time because there was no football team at the school." said Geng Hongwei, Wang Shanshan's PE teacher in primary school located in Luoyang in central China's Henan province.

"I liked playing football at that time, so I taught them to play football as warm-up exercise." Geng added.

But Wang was not so tall that was not fit to play volleyball after she graduated from primary school. Geng persuaded Wang to play football, a decision supported by her parents.

"I didn't want to waste Wang's genius in sports." Geng said.

Then Wang Shanshan learned playing football at a soccer school in Luoyang and Beijing, and played as a professional footballer in Tianjin and Dalian. She joined the international side in 2012.

"I hope she never gets hurt again and plays at her best in next games in France." Wang Ruijin said. Enditem

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