China's Fan Tingting (C) breaks through the Chinese Taipei defense during the team’s 2-0 victory over Chinese Taipei, Aug 11, 2011. [Photo by Cui Meng/China Daily]

* Local team riding high after 2-0 victory

SHENZHEN - China, three-time medalist in women's Universiade soccer, started its 2011 campaign with a 2-0 win against Chinese Taipei on Thursday.

But the host team was put under some pressure in the latter stages of the game, as Chinese Taipei started to press forward and was unlucky not to score when skipper Lin Chiung-ying rocked the crossbar with a powerful header with 15 minutes remaining.

Pang Fengyue scored China's first goal in the 26th minute and Li Dongna added a second in the 61st to complete the scoring.

"A number of skilled players helped us win the game. We will go further in the campaign if we keep the current momentum," said China's head coach, Wang Changquan.

A total of 14 players in the Chinese Universiade squad are from the Beijing Normal University, which won the women's national college tournament last year.

Some players, like captain Bi Yan, striker Wang Shanshan and defenders Qu Shanshan and Wang Dongni, were also chosen in China's national team.

"National team members have played a big role in the development of the current team," Wang said. "They can lead the team to win games and boost young players' confidence."

Besides Bi, most players in the China squad were born between 1988 and 1991 and had never played in a major international competition before the Universiade.

"Young players have learned a lot from experienced teammates such as Bi. They are the future of Chinese women's football," Wang said.

For Bi, who studies at Beijing Normal University, the games at the Universiade are no different to other international events. "Compared with bigger international events such as the World Cup and the Olympics, the Universiade competition maybe has not gained much attention from the public,"Bi said. "But for me, it makes no difference on the pitch."

Since entering the Athletes' Village on Aug 5, Bi said she was happy with the organization of the Shenzhen Universiade, which officially opens today.

"It is my first time competing at a Universiade," Bi said. "Everything is going smoothly here, but my biggest expectation is to win a medal this time."

Bi said there was a gap between the skills of various players in the team. "I think their studies may affect their performances,"she said. "My teammates' skills are modest, so if I have time I'd love to share my experience with them."

Lu Kuei-hua, head coach of Chinese Taipei, said: "If China had not included some national team players, I think we could have beaten them today."

In what looks like a group of death, China hopes to become the first host nation to win gold in women's soccer at a Universiade.

Since winning the inaugural women's soccer gold medal in 1993 by beating the United States 2-1, China won bronze in 2003 and silver in 2005.

Great Britain was the bronze medalist at the 2009 Universiade in Belgrade after beating France 4-1 and looks in good shape to build on that experience in Shenzhen.

"Canada is traditionally strong in women's football. But don't forget that we also made the semifinals in 1993 and 2003," said Lu, adding the Chinese Taipei team has improved a lot in recent years.