China spikers to arrive today

JAKARTA (JP): The Chinese women's volleyball team is scheduled to arrive at the Soekarno-Hatta airport today to take part in the US$1.5 million Ultra Jaya Cup World Volleyball Grand Prix at the Senayan sports complex on Aug. 19-21.

Most of the Chinese players to enter the field in Senayan are those who donned their national colors at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona in which they came seventh.

They include Li Yueming, Wu Dan, Lai Yawen, Wang Yi, Gao Lin and Ma Fang who will face Peru to mark the opening of the three- day event.

Out of a total of 12 squads, the round-robin system Grand Prix will include other foreign contenders such as Brazil, Peru and the Netherlands.

The Chinese team, according to Antara, are coming from an invitational meet in Sydney, Australia after reaching third place. That meeting was won by Cuba, with Japan coming second.

Brazil is also scheduled to meet the Netherlands in the opening. (hdj)