China's hopes in front of a supportive home crowd rest mainly on how they ward off the penalty corner threat from Maartje Paumen, whose 11 goals so far is the most by a woman player at a single Olympics.
Paumen, whose hat-trick flattened world number two Argentina 5-2 in Wednesday's semi-final, will once again lead the Dutch, the only team in the competition with a flawless 6-0 win record.
But having come so far with four wins from six games, the hosts are riding high after dumping defending champions Germany 3-2 on Wednesday that helped them avenge the semi-final defeat in Athens.
"Losing to the Germans in Athens was a bloody lesson for us," said China's South Korean coach Kim Chang-Back, whose nine-year tenure has moulded virtual novices into a world beating side.
"We have created Chinese hockey history but that is not enough. We want to change the world history of the sport by becoming the first Asian women's team to win the Olympic gold. The girls have told me they can do it. I am sure they can."
The Dutch have their own dreams to realise. The world No. 1 team were denied their second Olympic gold since 1984 when they were stunned by Germany in the Athens final four years ago.
"We get a chance to improve our Olympic record," said Paumen. "We have a lot of confidence going into the final. We will prepare well for it. China is a very good side and it should be a great final."
Paumen said her team will not be unnerved by the boisterous Chinese crowd expected for the title clash at the Olympic Green Hockey stadium.
"If they have their supporters, so do we," she said. "There will be a lot of Dutch fans out there and they can be as loud as anyone."
Paumen was expecting the same support from the stands as in Wednesday's semi-final where half the seats in the 12,000-capacity stadium was taken up by Oranje fans.
The Chinese women under Kim, the reigning Asian Games gold medallists, have outclassed their male counterparts, who made it to the Olympics for the first time here only because they were the host nation.
While the women are ranked sixth in the world, the men are placed 17th and lost four of their five league matches, earning a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
Argentina, who won the elite six-nation Champions Trophy ahead of the Olympics, will clash with Germany for the bronze medal on Friday. (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP)first published:August 21, 2008, 13:32 ISTlast updated:August 21, 2008, 13:32 IST
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Beijing: China go into their first ever Olympic women's hockey final on Friday confident of re-writing the sport's history against the overwhelming favourites Netherlands.
China's hopes in front of a supportive home crowd rest mainly on how they ward off the penalty corner threat from Maartje Paumen, whose 11 goals so far is the most by a woman player at a single Olympics.
Paumen, whose hat-trick flattened world number two Argentina 5-2 in Wednesday's semi-final, will once again lead the Dutch, the only team in the competition with a flawless 6-0 win record.
But having come so far with four wins from six games, the hosts are riding high after dumping defending champions Germany 3-2 on Wednesday that helped them avenge the semi-final defeat in Athens.
"Losing to the Germans in Athens was a bloody lesson for us," said China's South Korean coach Kim Chang-Back, whose nine-year tenure has moulded virtual novices into a world beating side.
"We have created Chinese hockey history but that is not enough. We want to change the world history of the sport by becoming the first Asian women's team to win the Olympic gold. The girls have told me they can do it. I am sure they can."
The Dutch have their own dreams to realise. The world No. 1 team were denied their second Olympic gold since 1984 when they were stunned by Germany in the Athens final four years ago.
"We get a chance to improve our Olympic record," said Paumen. "We have a lot of confidence going into the final. We will prepare well for it. China is a very good side and it should be a great final."
Paumen said her team will not be unnerved by the boisterous Chinese crowd expected for the title clash at the Olympic Green Hockey stadium.
"If they have their supporters, so do we," she said. "There will be a lot of Dutch fans out there and they can be as loud as anyone."
Paumen was expecting the same support from the stands as in Wednesday's semi-final where half the seats in the 12,000-capacity stadium was taken up by Oranje fans.
The Chinese women under Kim, the reigning Asian Games gold medallists, have outclassed their male counterparts, who made it to the Olympics for the first time here only because they were the host nation.
While the women are ranked sixth in the world, the men are placed 17th and lost four of their five league matches, earning a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
Argentina, who won the elite six-nation Champions Trophy ahead of the Olympics, will clash with Germany for the bronze medal on Friday.
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