Chinese head coach Chen Zhonghe said the team trained with the forthcoming major tournaments in mind. "We are not only training intensively for the Grand Prix, but also for the World Championship in Japan in November and the Asian Games in Qatar in December.

"Russia are our strongest rivals here. I can't say now whether we can repeat the feat of Athens where we won. They are much stronger this time. We also have many tall players who can blunt the attacks of the Russians." Thailand coach Suttichai Chanbunchee, talking exclusively to The Nation, said the girls are in great form and "will do their best".

Youth games

Bangkok is ready to host the 40th Bangkok International Children's Games, which will kick off on August 26. Deputy Governor of Bangkok Buddhipongse Punankanta said the capital is ready to stage the three-day event, which will attract more than 2,300 young athletes from 82 cities and 37 nations.

"All the venues are ready for the event and the children will get the best of our hospitality," said Buddhipongse and added that 82 gold medals in athletics, swimming, tennis, table tennis, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, dance sports, futsal and taekwondo will be up for grabs. The opening ceremony will be held at the Thai-Japan Welfare Youth Centre on August 25. Hua Mark Sports Complex and Nimibutr National Stadium are the other venues where events will be held.

Charity rally

The 12th annual BU Alumni Charity Rally from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi will be held on September 2 and 3.

Sponsored by Thai J Press Company, the two-day event will have only amateur teams in the VIP and open classes. A total of 120 teams are taking part in the event that will start from the Bangkok University Rangsit campus at 7am on September 7 and finish at the Felix River Kwai Hotel in Kanchanaburi, where the awards ceremony will be staged.