Asian champion and World Cup host Japan eyed a podium finish at the women's volleyball tournament to kick off in Tokyo on Friday.

 

"Our target is to win a medal," Japan coach Shoichi Yanagimoto, who had set a minimum target of eight wins from 11 games, told reporters on Friday.

 

In September, the Japanese women beat reigning Olympic and World Cup champion China on the way to win its first Asian Championship title in 24 years.

 

"Our team is getting better and better, and the players became much more confident after our victory at the Asian Championship. We believe we are one of the best teams."

 

European runner-up Serbia was also ambitious, expecting to repeat its feat of making top three at the World Championships last year.

 

"I think we have the power to repeat our success," said Serbia coach Zoran Terzic.

 

"We feel no pressure at all, we will just try our best and enjoy volleyball."

 

Nevertheless, Italy coach Massimo Barbolini kept a low tone.

 

"It's a great honor to play in the World Cup," Barbolini said. "We come here as the European champions, but we know many teams hope for Olympic qualification and it will be very difficult."

 

Twelve teams including Brazil, Cuba, the United States and Poland will play in the round-robin tournament with top three finishers to seal a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

 

Automatically qualified for the Beijing Olympics as the host, China will not compete in this World Cup while world champion Russia and World Grand Prix Finals winner the Netherlands failed to qualify for the 15-day competition running through November 16.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2007)