Chinese women's hockey team made an history at the 28th Olympic Games with a 3-0 win over Spain on Wednesday, making it the first team in the semi-finals.
The Chinese team, whose previous best was fifth place at the Sydney Games four years ago, secured the top four spot with three consecutive wins in Group A.
Sydney bronze medallists the Netherlands virtually assured themselves of a place in the last four, their 4-1 victory over Germany taking them to the top of group B.
The Dutch, who play defending champions Australia in their last match on Sunday, have won all three matches so far.
Australia, South Korea and Germany have one win each from two games and any two could surpass the Dutch on goal difference if they win their remaining matches with huge margins.
The South Koreans, beaten by the Dutch in their first match, resurrected their campaign with a 3-0 demolition of South Africa.
China are the only team in the 10-team event yet to concede a goal, but coach Kim Changback was not impressed by his team's success.
"They all want to score goals instead of communicating with each other," Kim said.
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"They do no co-operate with each other. Each one of them is tooambitious. If they play as a team they can do much better."
China, virtually unknown in women's hockey till the 1990s, hit the headlines when they won the elite six-nation Champions Trophy in 2002.
The Chinese play world champions Argentina in the last match onSunday, a match that could decide group A winners.
Kim conceded the maiden semi-final appearance will give women'shockey a major fillip in China.
"Hockey, especially by women, is not very popular back home," he said. "Hopefully these Gams will make people more aware of it.
"Till four years ago, there were only about 200 men and women hockey players in China. It was very embarrassing.
"Now there are about 400-500 players in a country of more than a billion and 11 women's teams."
Spain, who won the gold at home in Barcelona in 1992, are out of contention for the semi-finals with their second consecutive defeat. They lost to Argentina 0-4 in the first game.
The Netherlands scored all four goals in the first half against Germany, who upset Australia in their first match.
The Germans kept the Dutch at bay in the second half and earneda consolation goal through Nadine Ernsting against the run of play.
In Wednesday's last group A match, Japan defeated New Zealand 2-0 for their first win in three matches. Tomomi Komori scored once in each half.
New Zealand captain Suzie Muirhead denied her team their first goal in the competition when she failed to convert a penalty stroke.
Both Japan and winless New Zealand are out of the semi-final race.
(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2004)
