BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China has selected its best college volleyball players to compete in the upcoming 2019 World Summer University Games to be held in Naples, Italy.
The Games, which will kick off on July 3rd, see the Chinese women volleyball players are pitted in the group together with Brazil, Ukraine and Germany, while their male counterparts will face Russia, the United States, South Korea and Portugal.
"Our women's team finished fifth in the last Universiade. We are hoping to have an improved performance but it will be tough as the women's teams are stronger than before in the Universiade," said Luo Wenchen, head coach of the Chinese women's team.
"I have never participated in any international competition, and I hope to learn more from the Games," said team member Chen Xiaoqi, a freshman at Beihang University.
For his part, the Chinese men's team head coach, Tang Yi said that "the competition is fierce in the men's volleyball matches, but we will go all out to win every match and hope to make it to the last 16."
"We hope our men's and women's teams will learn a lot and improve their skills during the games, as it will help promote the development of the sport in our country," said Sun Guomin, the Chinese volleyball team manager.