Defending champion China swept Thailand 25-19, 25-20 and 25-9 at the Hong Kong leg of the 2004 World Grand Prix women's volleyball tournament opening on Friday. 

Inspired by enthusiastic local fans and her mom, who flied to Hong Kong from northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang to cheer for her, Chinese ace spiker Yang Hao scored 14 points to lead the World Cup title-holders.

"Yeah, Mom's presence did help me play better," Yang said with her broad smile. "And I was also encouraged by the local fans."

Thousands of fans arrived at the Hong Kong Coliseum to cheer for the Chinese team despite a typhoon which whipped the island earlier on Friday.

The lowly Thailand fought bravely early in the match and jumped to a 4-1 lead in the first set. The Chinese women, who won the World Grand Prix and the World Cup in 2003, steadily pulled within 12-11 and then used a 6-0 run to go up 17-12 and never looked back.

"We started slowly in the first set," said Chinese captain FengKun. "Then we found our rhythm and got our game going."

China had no problem delivering the Thais in the next two sets.

Earlier on Friday, the United States outlasted Italy in a five-set thriller. The Americans, who ended the Chinese women's 28-game winning streak at international stage by beating them at the Swiss International Tournament in June, will meet China on Saturday.

"We had a below-bar performance last time (in June)," said China head coach Chen Zhonghe. "This time we will try to play to our best standard."

Twelve teams are competing in three groups at the 2004 World Grand Prix with China, Italy, the United States and Thailand playing here in Hong Kong. Top five finishers from three rounds of preliminaries and the host Italy will enter the Finals set for July 27 to August 1 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2004)