Egypt, China sign deal to build level-3 biosafety lab    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt backs Palestinian unity, calls for ceasefire, aid access    EGX ends week in green on July 10    Egyptian pound strengthens against US dollar on July 10    Egypt, China central banks sign pacts to boost yuan use, payment systems    Egypt's EDA, Haleon discuss local market support    Environment ministry signs agreement to strengthen marine protection, promote ecotourism    Egypt, WHO discuss expanding health cooperation, development initiatives    Service restoration underway after Cairo telecom fire, minister tells PM    Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Egypt for high-level talks    Gaza under siege, fire: Resistance intensifies amid deepening humanitarian collapse    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, Pakistan boost healthcare ties – Cabinet    UK, Egypt strengthen cooperation on green transition, eco-tourism, and environmental investments    Escalation in Gaza as ceasefire talks remain fragile amid mounting humanitarian crisis    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM, Uruguay's president discuss Gaza, trade at BRICS summit    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger        Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



China coach lauds team's bravery amid coronavirus chaos
Published in Ahram Online on 14 - 02 - 2020

The coach of the Chinese women's soccer team has praised the "strong hearts" of his players after they emerged undefeated from an Olympic qualifying tournament in Australia despite their preparations being thrown into chaos by the coronavirus.
The flu-like virus emerged in Wuhan, Hubei province, in December and has killed more than 1,300 people.
After the qualifying tournament was moved from Wuhan to Sydney due to the outbreak the entire China camp was confined to a Brisbane hotel and unable to train for a near two-week quarantine period after arriving in Australia.
However, the shrugged off the disruptions to beat Thailand and Taiwan before holding Australia's well-drilled "Matildas" to a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
A stoppage time strike by Australia midfielder Emily van Egmond dashed China's hopes of topping Group B, and they will have to take on South Korea in a two-leg playoff to qualify for the Tokyo Games rather than meet lower-ranked Vietnam.
China's coach Jia Xiuquan was nonetheless full of praise for his players and how they had responded to the challenges.
"The performance of these games proves that the team members have strong hearts," he told Chinese media.
"They are a new generation of Chinese women's football. Every one of them wants to show their ability, especially during times of difficulty.
"Chinese women's football has always had a good tradition and style ... I am very happy they (showed) that."
Australia finished top of Group B and play Vietnam in the first leg of their playoff in Newcastle on March 6, before the return clash five days later.
China travel to South Korea for the first leg on March 6 with the return leg on March 11.
With Chinese authorities still battling to contain the spread of the coronavirus, however, staging the return leg in China may also be problematic.
The Asian Football Confederation was unable to provide immediate comment on the match's scheduling.
A slew of sporting events in China have been affected by the virus, including Formula One's Chinese Grand Prix, which was scheduled for April in Shanghai but has been postponed.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.