Future stars emerge from Youth Olympics

Chinese women's soccer team seeking blossom

The Chinese women's soccer team had long been a powerhouse, but not for the latest decade. China had reached the final at the 1999 Women's World Cup, which they lost on penalty shootout to the hosts, the United States, 4-5.

At the Youth Olympics, China's U-15 women's soccer team thrashed Venezuela 5-0 in the final and earned China a long-waited title on the sport. The 1999-World Cup team of China, the most powerful Chinese women soccer team ever, was nicknamed "Iron Roses", now China can expect the roses to blossom again.