China finally achieved their first win in the women's World Grand Prix final round yesterday.
After losing their first two games in the six-team, round-robin tournament, the Olympic champions outclassed the Netherlands 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19) on day three.
But they have found their form too late to win the US$200,000 first prize, as both Italy and Brazil maintained their perfect 3-0 records with just two rounds to go, and they have still to play each other.
Still, the Chinese restored a smattering of pride with their business-like victory over a tall but tactically raw and inexperienced Dutch team.
Inevitably it was Chu Jinling who inspired the team with 15 points, including 13 spikes, and Athens Olympian Zhang Ping was also in fine form with the same points tally.
While Chu held her position on the left, Zhang was the more elusive, timing her runs from deep before soaring to meet the ball and send it crashing down the middle.