FIH official says China strong title contender in women's hockey at Beijing Olympics

China has great potential to win the gold medal in women's field hockey tournament at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, an official of International Hockey Federation said here on Thursday during the 10th National Games.

Dennis Meredith, the events manager and secretary of FIH Events and Competitions Committee, told Xinhua: "Chinese women's field hockey players have already achieved a very high ranking in the world, and I expect them to be a very strong title contender in the home field of Beijing."

Meredith said he was very impressed by the standard of field hockey at the National Games, "I think some of these teams could play in the top league in any other strong hockey countries."

"This standard is very high in provincial competitions," he said. "I believe there are many countries in the world considering China as a very, very strong field hockey country in the next three years."

Peter von Reth, the chairperson of FIH Umpiring Committee, expressed the appreciation of the development of field hockey in China and kept a close watch to women's field hockey tournament held here in Changzhou. Yet, he also said the dream of winning a gold medal in 2008 Olympic Games "is a tough target" for the Chinese national team.

Kim Chang Back, the South Korean coach of the Chinese women's field hockey national team, said earlier that they would do the best to achieve the long-awaited Olympic gold medal in 2008. Kim has led those hard-working players to a breathtaking fifth place in Sydney Olympic Games and a heartbreaking fourth place in Athens Olympic Games.

Source: Xinhua