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| China's No 20 Guo Hong (L) celebrating
with teammate Guan Weinan after scoring a goal during Olympic qualifiers
against France Nov 11, 2004 in Beijing.
[Xinhua] |
The Chinese women's ice hockey team got
off to a winning start in the Group C Olympic
qualifiers for the 2006 Turin Games, beating France 7-1 in a
lop-sided game in Beijing.
Switzerland routed Norway 8-0 in an earlier clash, ranking top in the
group ahead of China due to the goal difference. Daniela Diaz scored a
hat-trick.
China, ranking seventh in the world, moved ahead when a shot from Li
Xiuli past French goalkeeper seven minutes 47 seconds into the first
period.
But the fighting French levelled the score four minutes later thanks to
Francoise Bidaud.
The Chinese managed to control the game with slick passes and numerous shots but had to
wait until one minute and 44 seconds before the end of first period, when
captain Wang Linuo put the Chinese ahead again with a long-range shot.
They left little chance for France, 13th in the world, with a flurry of
goals in the next period.
 China's head coach Paul Strople said he was satisfied with the
performance.
"The team seemed a little bit nervous in the opening stage, but they
got in form soon after taking a 2-1 lead," said Strople.
Strople started his coaching with the Chinese team in April this year.
He sounded upbeat about China's chances of qualifying for the 2006 Winter
Olympics.
"We are technically stronger than the other teams. I think we stand a
good chance of qualifying," said the 37-year-old Canadian.
China faces Norway on Friday,
while Switzerland plays France.
(China Daily) | 
Updated: 2004-11-12 09:01