China's young basketballers aim at reaching the quarter-finals in the world youth championship in Greece next month, head coach Wu Qinglong said here on Thursday.
A former defender of the Chinese national team, Wu took over the national youth team last month.
Wu said: "Our long-term task is to mature some players for the national team in the 2008 Olympic Games. As for the world youth championships, we'll try to advance into the last eight. "
But Wu must be realistic because China have been drawn in a group with the United States, Slovenia and Nigeria in the world championship opening on July 10.
The Chinese coach knows he faces a tough task at the worlds as, apart from a strong United States side, Slovenia also pose a serious challenge as the group winners at the championships qualifying tournament. "We had to take great challenges before achieving our goal," he added.
(People's Daily June 13, 2003)
