Volleyball can't save day

China looks good in the medal tally at the London Olympics, with one glaring omission.

With the exception of table tennis, China has struggled mightily in ball-based sports at the Games, the only dark patch as it closes in on topping the gold-medal count for the second straight time.

The last hope fizzled on Wednesday night, when Xue Chen and Zhang Xi lost the bronze-medal match in beach volleyball to Brazil's Juliana Silva and Larissa Franca.

Xue and Zhang, who won bronze at the Beijing Games, were the only ones to make it to the final four as the women's volleyball, basketball and water polo teams all bowed out in the quarterfinals and men's basketball didn't survive the pool stage. Neither the men's nor the women's soccer team even made it to London following lackluster performances in the preliminaries.

Under pressure to save face, Xue and Zhang struggled to hang on Wednesday night, tying the first two sets 21-11, 19-21 against the world's No 1 pair. They couldn't hang on in the decider, losing 12-15 to swallow their 23th defeat in the teams 32 encounters.

"It was so regretful that we couldn't deliver a medal this time - we could have done better when we led in the second set," Zhang said in the mixed zone.

"In terms of the final outcome, yes, we are pretty upset as we came here for at least a podium finish," Xue said. "But as far as the process goes, we feel satisfied that we improved our chemistry a lot."

The combo became the top in the nation after veteran pair Tian Jia and Wang Jie, the silver medalists in Beijing, retired in 2010.

They lived up to it with a series of impressive performances on the world tour the past two years, and came to London as the No 2 seed in the world.

Xue and Zhang became a focal point for the Chinese media, followed by a fairly large group of reporters at the venue.

They shrugged off the attention, saying the sport needs as much as it can get in China.

"I don't think so," Xue said when asked if the attention was affecting them negatively. "Actually, we were expecting increased focus on us and hoping that could get more people involved in the sport so the event could develop sustainability with an improving foundation."

Zhang agreed.

"We didn't feel uncomfortable being the nation's only big-ball hope - we actually enjoyed it. Hopefully, more youngsters can emerge quickly and we won't be the only ones again at the 2016 Rio Games."

To prepare for the Games, Xue and Zhang spent six grueling months in Hainan province to hone their serves, passes, sets and spikes for at least five hours every day.

Zhang, for one, is ready for a break.

"I think I will probably throw up if I hit the ball again back home," Zhang joked after the match.

"My next plan is to travel across the country with my friends. I have several friends who all invited me to see them, and I am afraid my schedule will be packed."

Meanwhile, Zhang, 27, said she was jealous of US veteran Kerri Walsh, who claimed her third straight Olympic title with partner Misty May-Treanor.

"She's been able to play so long because she's been able to have a life apart from the sport," Zhang said after losing to the US in the semifinals. "For us, during my career as an athlete, I've only been able to have training and competitions."

Walsh, 34, came back to the sport after having two children following her 2008 Beijing Games victory, refreshed and ready to play at a high level.

Walsh also plays different roles on TV and the radio.

"When they get tired, they can quit for a while," Zhang said. "And when they come back, they will be more passionate. In our system, it's almost impossible."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn