Fuzhou to host volleyball Open

The 2013 beach volleyball season will begin with the Fuzhou Open in China as the capital city of Fujian province will host the men's and women's Open from April 23 to 28.

More than 100 teams from about 40 countries are expected to participate in the games. Chinese stars Xue Chen and Zhang Xi will also join the competition.

Although it is the first time Fuzhou will host an Open event, the city organized the Asian Volleyball Confederation Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in June, when Australia took first place in the women's tournament and Japan in the men's.

Fuzhou is the seventh Chinese city to host an international level volleyball event after Beijing, Dalian, Lianyungang, Maoming, Sanya and Shanghai.