Special report:   2008 Olympic Games

    CHENGDU, Western China, June 14 (Xinhua) -- When Tom Maher, head coach of the Chinese women's basketball national team, was sitting at the lobby of the Jinqiang Hotel, he knew that nothing but a podium finish of his team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games could satisfy the fans.

    "I know everybody wants us to win a medal at the Beijing 2008, even a gold medal, but it's different to set an achievable goal from what you hope for," the Australian said while his team was playing at the international warm-up at Wenjiang, about 20 kilometers away from the downtown of the Southwest city of Chengdu.

    The Chinese women's team has a better history in the international competitions than their men peers, led by Houston Rockets' star center Yao Ming, who is aiming for another entry in the last eight in the Olympics.

    China won the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and finished second at the World Championships in 1994, both the best results for the women's team on the world level.

    In 2004, China finished only 9th after losing 79-77 to New Zealand in the preliminary round in Athens, and lost to Cuba 71-68in the 11-12th placing finals at the World Championships in 2006, also the two worst results for them.

    "We need more quality players for the goal. We do have some talented players, like Ye Li, (Sui) Feifei and Wang Ling. But they are too vulnerable to be healthy," Maher said.

    Center Ye, Yao's girlfriend, is still nursing her knee injury which puzzled her from international competitions more than a year, and forward Sui Feifei has been resting for about the same length long for constant injuries.

    Without these top choices, Maher had to build up his team with current active players for a potential medal team at the Beijing 2008.

    "Chen Nan is the most improved player. She is a great player and the leader of the team," Maher said.

    Chen was an established pivot before Maher took the post three years ago after he led New Zealand into the last eight on the sacrifice of China in Athens 2004.

    "Chen was a star player before I came here, but now she is great. The great player is willing to do everything that she could get credit for. That's the difference between a great player and a star player," Maher added.

    "Miao Lijie is a better defender now. She could not defend, and that's the reason why she couldn't get enough playing time when she was in the Los Angeles Sparks.

    "Bian Lan is one of the top scorers and Song Xiaoyun, the most emotional player of the team, is getting better on her point guard position," Maher said.

    China crushed New Zealand 88-46 on Wednesday at the four-nation internationals and will face Cuba on Friday.

    "Nothing but the result of the Beijing 2008 could speak my work and my future with the China's team," Maher vowed.