Unbeaten Japan blast out of shadows to topple Olympic champions

The last time Japan had this winning feeling, the United States was celebrating its bicentennial year, Robin Williams was Mork and Sylvester Stallone starred in the original Rocky motion picture. It has been a quarter of a century since Japan last won the Olympic title, but the Japanese announced their return to the top level by blasting three-time Olympic champions Cuba 3-1 to stay unbeaten in the FIVB Women's World Grand Prix at Hong Kong Coliseum last night.

Japan have been living in the shadows of top-class teams like Cuba, Russia and Brazil for so long, but now Japanese head coach Masahiro Yoshikawa thinks he has a team who can climb to the mountain top - again. Japan's magic transformation from also-rans (they failed to qualify for last year's Olympics in Sydney) to world beaters is staggering considering they are ranked outside the world's top 10.

Japan now must beat Brazil - who lost 3-2 to China in last night's other game - today to claim the tournament.

'We can be the world's best again,' said Yoshikawa, who acknowledged the last time Japan were world beaters was when they won the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

'We train hard every day and we are striving to be the best again. We were used to losing against these top teams before, but I am happy to announce that times are now changing.'

Yoshikawa's prophetic words carried weight after his talented team dismantled the best team in the world 25-23, 16-25, 25-16, 25-21 in 82 minutes.