The day before today's official opening of the 23rd Summer Universiade in the Turkish city of Izmir, the Chinese women's basketball team were beaten 86-41 by Poland in the tournament opener and their male compatriots lost 4-1 to Uruguay in the soccer preliminary Group C match.

"Before the games, we had expected that we might face some difficulties, but never to lose in this way," said Wang Gang, secretary-general of the delegation. "The teams definitely have some problems, and it should not become an excuse that they have not adjusted to their new circumstances in time."

Also on Wednesday, China tied with Finland 1-1 in their women's soccer tournament pool match.

"Our aim is to win 10 to 15 gold medals," said Yang Liguo, executive chief of the Chinese delegation. "Most of China's celebrated athletes will not compete in Izmir, thus it's not possible for us to match the wonderful results of recent Summer University Games."

"I think in this year's Games we will collect most of our golds in diving, gymnastics, swimming and fencing," Yang added.

China has dispatched 201 athletes and 119 officials to take part at 137 events in 11 sports.

Wang said most players on the two losing teams moved into the Athletes Village on August 8, but "they should have had enough time to prepare, and their coaches made some strategic mistakes, such as sending in players not in good form, and making substitutions at the wrong time."

In the drawing game, neither team posted a serious offensive in the first 60 minutes until Chinese forward Jiang Shixiao scored a right pass off a free kick.

Ten minutes later, Finnish attacker Daniela Tjeder fired a powerful long shoot over the left side right into the net to equalize.

China failed in ball possession, making few attempts for the goal, which team coach Gao Rongming said was due to players' lack of experience and confidence in their international debut.

China topped the medal tally at the 21st Summer Universiade held in Beijing in 2001 with 54 golds, 25 silvers and 24 bronzes, and won 41 golds, 27 silvers and 13 bronzes in Daegu, South Korea two years later.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2005)