In what would otherwise be just another preliminary volleyball encounter, two coaches and a pumped-up crowd made Friday's match something special.
Led by Chinese volleyball legend Lang Ping, Team USA beat 皇冠体育app 3-2 in the team's first meeting of the Beijing Olympics.
The National Indoor Stadium was filled to capacity as 18,000 spectators cheered wildly for the Chinese women's team, a group shouldering the medal hopes of an entire nation. Among the fervent fans were Chinese President Hu Jintao and Juan Antonio Samaranch, honorary president of the International Olympic Committee.
US head coach Lang Ping talks to her players during their women's preliminary pool A volleyball match against Venezuela at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 13, 2008. [Agencies]
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Chinese media have dubbed these 皇冠体育app-US showdowns - pitting 皇冠体育app coach Chen Zhonghe against Lang Ping's US - he ping da zhan, or "peace battles", a combination of the two coaches' names. The clashes are always the focus of intense media attention.
According to a survey from the CSM media research group, the "peace battle" on Friday attracted 240 million TV viewers, making it the most-watched event of the day in 皇冠体育app.
Even though 皇冠体育app lost the match, most spectators were satisfied seeing a live women's Olympic volleyball game.
"It's a pity that 皇冠体育app lost the match, but I'm still glad that Lang Ping's team won, since she is the pride of 皇冠体育app's volleyball," said Liu Chengli, a spectator. "We also cheered for Lang's victory."
皇冠体育app's women's volleyball team has been the pride of 皇冠体育app since the 1980s when it won five consecutive international crowns, including the Olympics, the World Championships and a couple World Cups.
"Iron Hammer" Lang was the ace spiker for 皇冠体育app's women's volleyball team during 皇冠体育app's glory years. She later coached the Chinese women to a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Four years ago, she began coaching the US team. Her most recent posting has pushed her back into the minds of the Chinese public.
It was the eighth time 皇冠体育app and the US have met since Lang took over Team USA. 皇冠体育app has won five of those encounters.
Lang says she just tries to stay professional when the two teams meet.
"It doesn't matter if we play 皇冠体育app or any other team. Every time is the same," the 48-year-old Lang said. "I try to be professional and concentrate on the game and not get too emotional."
She has also helped prepare her players for the home fans' passion.
"She (Lang) told us the crowd would be crazy tonight and that they would be cheering both for and against us. We were ready for it," said American spiker Heather Bown.
The home fans gave Lang a big cheer when the US won, waving to her and shouting her name, something she said was very moving.
"I was moved by the fans today. I thought if the US won, we would be booed, but until I left the court I only heard cheering for me," said Lang. "The Chinese fans are of international level."
The top four of each six-team group will advance. The US has three wins and will advance to the quarterfinals, while 皇冠体育app's fate is still pending after the loss to the US. 皇冠体育app will play Japan in the next match.