BEIJING, March 3: China is sending its national beach volleyball team to the United States this week to learn from the Olympic champion women in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Games.

The beach volleyball team, the latest Chinese squad to train abroad or receive foreign coaching, will spend around six weeks in the United States training with top American coaches and playing friendly matches, the China Sports Daily said on Friday.

“(Chinese volleyball authorities) will increase investment in China’s beach volleyball this year to help the national team prepare for the challenge of the Beijing Olympics,” national head coach Miao Zhihong said.—Reuters