SAPPORO, Japan, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- United States will try to win their first-ever Olympic gold medal in women's volleyball at Tokyo 2020, head coach Karch Kiraly told Xinhua on Tuesday.
The 58-year-old is leading Team USA at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup in Japan with a 7-1 record so far, with the sole loss coming from a 3-0 defeat to defending champions China on Monday.
"So far, we've had a lot of very nice performances in this World Cup. We won all of our matches except yesterday against China. That match, China had a very strong performance, which caused the USA to not have a very good performance. But outside of that match, we're happy with the other way we're playing," Kiraly said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
USA had swept past home team China 3-0 in a Nations League clash in Jiangmen earlier this year and won back-to-back titles. However, this time China managed to turn the table and coach Kiraly underlined China's progress in serve and reception.
"They played much better in service and reception, and our reception was not so good. Every player for China played very well. That was a great team win for China," he said. "China do lots of things really well, they improved their game from Nations Leagues."
Looking into the Tokyo 2020 next year with a ticket already in hand, Kiraly hopes to guide the Rio 2016 bronze medalists to stand on top of the podium for the first time.
"I don't know if it's the best chance, but it's a good chance. And we're excited for the chance. We would like to win a gold medal. We've never won one. Our job is to try to win," the former three-time Olympic gold medalist noted.
With new faces including 22-year-old Jordyn Poulter and Haleigh Washington, who just turned 24 and are having an impressive run at the World Cup, Kiraly sees that potential of his side but emphasized each player has to earn her spot.
"These young players have very strong potential. When they're young, they have more time to learn and improve, so they can play. It's possible that they will play important roles next year. But nothing is guaranteed. Everybody we bring to the Tokyo Olympics has to earn the right to be a part of that roster," he said.
When asked about contenders for the gold medal, Kiraly finds it hard to name just one or two.
"Certainly China has to be a contender. Serbia has to be a contender. Serbia won the World Championship and the European Championship. Italy is a strong contender. They got second at the world championship. Russia is playing better, Brazil is always very strong. So there are many teams that have a good chance to do well in Tokyo, and we hope to be playing all the way to the end of that tournament," he added.
