While China must accept that Brazil have been the world's best team in 2005, it doesn't mean that other rivals cannot still learn from them. Like Poland, for example.
The big, powerful European champions were dismantled by China's pace and precision on the final day of the women's World Grand Champions Cup at Nagoya Rainbow Hall yesterday.
After being pounded 25-17 by Poland's heavy artillery in the first set, China's fluid attacking machine clicked into gear, and they swept the next three 25-17, 25-19, 25-20 to record their third straight victory in the inter-continental championship.
Their 3-2 win-loss record was good enough for third place in the six-nation tournament, and for prize money of US$125,000. The contrasting physical characteristics of the two teams could best be defined by the two number sevens. For Poland, the 1.90-metre, 84-kilogram Malgorzata Glinka, who is a fearsome sight as she soars to spike, and is almost unstoppable on her day. For China, the 1.82-metre, 75-kilogram Zhou Suhong, who is more subtle in her approach but still churns out the points. Against Poland she top-scored for China with 17, four more than Glinka.
'China are better than us because they play more consistently,' said Glinka. 'They all play at the same level. They don't just have one player, it's all six. You need this to win top titles.'
Brazil have this, too, and they followed up their World Grand Prix title success in Sendai, Japan, in July, with their first inter-continental crown. Brazilian Sheilla Castro was named tournament MVP, and the other individual awards included the best attacker for Zhou Suhong and best setter for China's captain, Feng Kun.