China women's national team coach Ma Liangxing has announced a mixed squad of 20 players for the upcoming AFC Women's Asian Cup 2006 in Adelaide from July 16-30.

In the absence of the legendary Sun Wen, who is injured, Ma will be banking heavily on the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup trio of veterans Han Wenxia, Pu Wei and Ren Liping to help China return to their winning ways in a tournament they have won seven times in a row from 1987 to 1999.

Ma will also be looking to blood three promising youngsters drafted from the victorious AFC U-19 women's team - Zhang Yanru, Wen Xinzhi and Yuan Fan.

"We have no choice but to win the title," said Ma, who was in charge of the team at the 2003 AFC Women's Asian Cup when they were beaten by DPR Korea.

"We haven't beaten DPR Korea since 2002, but besides them the Japanese, Australian and Korea Republic teams have also made good progress in recent years," added Ma.

"But if China wants to be the world's best women's team again we have to defeat all these teams. So our only aim is to win this cup."

China should have no problem in reaching the knockout stage as they have been slotted in the relatively easier Group A alongside Chinese Taipei, whom they play in the opener on July 19, Japan and Vietnam.

Group B has newcomers and hosts Australia, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Myanmar and Thailand.

THE SQUAD

Han Wenxia, Zhang Yanru, Pu Wei, Li Jie, Liu Huana, Liu Liya, Yuan Fan, Wang Kun, Wen Xinzhi, Ren Liping, Pan Lina, Bi Yan, Bai Lili, Zheng Qin, Zhang Tong, Wang Dandan, Shi Mengyu, Han Duan, Ma Xiaoxu, Guo Yue.

(AFC July 12, 2006)