The women's World Grand Prix finals start today with a heavyweight bout which could well decide the destiny of the title.
China against Cuba looks more like an Olympic final, but on this occasion it will be just the first match of the six-team, 15-game spike-fest. The Netherlands, defending World Grand Prix champions Brazil, Italy and Japan complete the line-up, and such is the level of anticipation that all five days at the 8,500-capacity Sendai City Gymnasium are sold out.
Although China are still smarting from their 3-0 defeat by Italy in Hong Kong on Sunday, no one has written them off here. Least of all Jose Guimaraes, head coach of Brazil. 'China and Cuba are the strongest teams here,' he admitted, after yesterday's practice.
'Both teams have a lot of players from the Athens Olympics and this is the biggest difference. We have just one, so they have more experience at this level. It's going to be difficult for us because we have a young team.'
China will be able to exact a swift revenge on Italy when the two teams meet tomorrow.
China's head coach, Chen Zhonghe, hopes his players have learned from their mistakes in Hong Kong. 'Our serve reception and our blocking were not good enough to cope with the effective serving and attacking of the Italian team,' Chen said.