Style and enthusiasm have returned to China, reminiscent of Yuan Weimin's inspirational volleyball two decades ago and an all-mighty Chinese side.

For China's women volleyballers, the Olympic Games wasn't about rubbing shoulders with some of the best players in the world but the lure of gold medal.

There was also an opportunity to restore pride.

Now they are sitting at the top of the world, already crowned at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and they now aim at sweeping all, at least most of, the sport's top honors in the next three years, just as the Chinese team did more than 20 years ago.

Head coach Chen Zhonghe, a no-nonsense southerner who speaks accented mandarin, has instilled confidence in the team, which followed the 2003 World Cup title with an Olympic gold.

"I was confident that we would win the Olympic title." he said, "That wasn't me being vain or arrogant. I just felt it."

"I'm definitely thinking about Beijing now." Chen said, "We overcame great pressure to win in Athens and I believe we can do it again in 2008."

Chen's 2008 master plan has been strengthened by the comeback of Zhao Ruirui, 2003 World Cup MVP who missed the Athens Olympics due to injuries.

"Athens is a rare opportunity to gather experience for 2008," said Chen. "I hope I will have the world's best team in the Beijing Games."

Chen will stick to his strategy of treating pre-Olympics meets as a test bed for young talent. Zhao Ruirui is hoping to start again next year after the Chinese National Games, but Asia's tallest spiker will be surrounded by some unfamiliar faces.

Chen, who has been in charge since 2001, is working closely with Cai Bin, head coach of China's under-20 women's team. He said that he would call up young players into his training camp.

"For Beijing, there is a great hope now. A new generation of players have emerged from Chinese volleyball's youth program," said the head coach.

"It is a step in the right direction but we are still a long way from where we came from, the standards of the 1980s."

Guru coach Yuan Weimin and his successors led China to five major titles, including the Olympic, world champion and World Cup, in the 1980s.

Chen decided to carry on as head coach after the Athens Games.

"I was wondering whether to continue as a coach or not after the Olympics, now my focus is clear. That is 2008."

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)