Chinese women's team won the opening match 3-0 over Argentina in Beijing Wednesday at the "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 International Hockey Tournament.

 

Chinese players overwhelmed their rivals in most part of the match. Defender Ma Yibo scored the first goal at the ninth minute with a penalty stroke, and consolidated the lead with a 41st minute penalty corner.

 

Forward Tang Chunling sealed the win at the 59th minute.

 

"We have young players on the middle field to ensure a fast and dynamic match," said China's South Korean coach Kim Changback. He said the team will seek new tactics and gain more penalty corners in later competitions.

 

"The systematic trainings we had before the match surely paid off," said China's main scorer Ma, adding that some of Argentina's best players were absent from today's lineup, which also "gave us some advantages."

 

Argentina's captain Aicega Magdalena admitted she was unsatisfied with the result but she believed her team will stage better performance later at the tournament.

 

"The Chinese players capitalized on our defensive mistakes and pierced through to score the goals," said coach Minadeo Gabriel.

 

He added that the weather difference and the jet lag also factored the failure. "Two days ago we were in winter back at home but Beijing is now in hot summer," he said.

 

Aicega Magdalena said she was impressed by the pitch and stadium. "I am looking forward to playing the match here next year," she said.

 

Her coach agreed, adding that he was very satisfied with the food and accommodation, but only one regret. "There's no Argentina kebab here, I missed it a lot," he said.

 

China's coach Kim Changback felt happy with a little pressure as the team's victory marked the one-year countdown of 2008 Olympics on August 8."

 

We will try our best to prepare for the Olympics, that's what it really matters," he said.

 

The Chinese women's team lost to Argentina at 0-1 at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

 

The match is among a series of trials named "Good Luck Beijing" as a warm-up to the 2008 Olympics to assess the transportation systems, technology and logistics.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2007)