China embraced its first volleyball World Cup title in 18 years on Friday after beating Japan 3-0 to finish the 2003 women's tournament with a perfect record.

It also marked the first triumph for the Chinese women at the three major volleyball tournaments, namely the World Cup, the World Championships and the Olympics, since 1986, when China crowned at the World Championships.

After Liu Ya'nan smashed home the match winner, the Chinese women threw head coach Chen Zhonghe into the air and broke into tears.

"It's really not easy (to win the World Cup title)," said Chen,who was the assistant coach when China took its last World Cup title in 1985. "We have been waiting for this moment for 18 years."

"I have to thank my players, they worked so hard in the past three years," Chen added. "We came across a lot of difficulties, but never gave up."

Brazil beat world champion Italy 3-1 earlier on Saturday to finish second at the World Cup with a 10-1 record. The United States swept Sydney Olympics champion Cuba 3-0 for a third finish and the last berth to the Athens Olympics on offer.

Italy, Japan and Cuba settled for the fourth to sixth places respectively in the 12-team tournament.

China, who had secured a top two finish and a spot in the Athens Olympics in 2004 before Saturday, wound up the single round-robin tournament in style with the 25-18, 25-18 and 25-13 victory over the hosts.

Roared on by 10,000 chanting and cheering home fans, the Japanese fought hardly against the powerful Chinese. However, they were unable to stop 1.96-meter Zhao Ruirui, who converted 11 of her 16 attacking attempts to lead China with 13 points.

"I did not realize we had clinched the victory when Ya'nan scored the last point," Zhao said. "I dare not look at the scoreboard when I was on the court."

"We were under pressure playing against Japan in front of so many enthusiastic home fans, and Japan played steadily during the match," Zhao added. "But we won through with unity and confidence."

Yang Hao contributed 11 points for China, Zhou Suhong and Wang Li'na added seven apiece.

The Chinese, winners at the World Grand Prix in Italy in Augustand the Asian Championship in Vietnam in October, completed their title hat-trick at the international stage in 2003 with an 11th straight win at the two-week-long tournament.

Chinese fans have waited for 17 years to see the hand-over of torch from the "Old Chinese Women's Volleyball Team", which had grabbed five straight titles in the three major tournaments in the1980s, to the new generation.

"We have been waiting so long for this moment," said Cui Miao, a 28-year-old Chinese student in Osaka. "I am so proud of the players, they are my heroines."

Chinese captain Feng Kun, who was a two-year-old baby when China took its first ever World Cup title in 1981, could not hold back her joyful tears.

"It's dream come true," Feng said. "I have been dreaming of winning the world championship for China since I began to play volleyball at ten."

The opponents also lavished praises on the invincible China.

"China is obviously the best team in the world," said Brazilianhead coach Jose Guimaraes. "Unfortunately we met them in the opening match."

The Brazilians, who suffered their only loss at the tournament to China, finished second behind China with a 10-1 win-loss record.

"They deserved to win the title," said Italy's head coach MarcoBonitta. "China is the strongest team in the world and they won everything this year.

"They prepared best for the World Cup," Bonitta added. "They have good tactics, the players are experienced and they are mentally strong."

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