The Chinese softball team has been preparing for the Olympics on their own soil for four years, said Wang Lihong, coach of the team on Monday.

"Now we are ready, both physically and mentally," she said.

Chinese team is balanced among speed, flexibility, steady pitching and defence, but attacking is one of its major headache.

During the training from half past seven to eleven on Monday morning, batters first practiced striking, followed by attack-and-defense training, when a sturdy Philippine male player acted as the pitcher.

"This practice is especially aimed for contests against teams like the United States and Australia that are known for fast pitching," Wang explained.

The coach added that trainings during these days wouldn't been intense, as they will focus on "adjustment of mentality". "It is mentality that holds the sway in Olympic competitions. What we need now is relaxatioin," she said.

Chinese softball players made the history by grabbing a silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, when the sport was first introduced to the Olympic agenda.

In the following Sydney and Athens Games, the girls narrowly missed a podium finish.

Beijing Olympics will see the final show of the sport, as it is to withdraw from Olympic programme at the 2012 London Games.

"Some of our players are beyond 30. This is definitely the last chance for them to achieve glory. I am sure that they will fight all out to prove themselves," said the sun-tanned lady.

But they would have a hard time, Wang admitted. "There is no weak team on the Olympic arena," she said.

Eight teams are going to vie for softball medals from August 12 to 21. They are from the United States, Australia, China, Japan, Canada, Chinese Taipei, the Netherlands and Venezuela.

Chinese girls will embark on their medal-pursuing journey on August 12 against the Netherlands at preliminary.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)