"But this is the first (competition) match this team has played since March," contended the Egyptian coach, Abdul Hamid el-Wasimi, after India lost 9-15, 7-15, 11-15 in just over an hour-and-a-half at the magnificent Muong Thani Sports Complex. Wasimi, who has been hired -- at a reported US $ 2,500 a month -- by the Volleyball Federation of India, however expressed satisfaction with the performance.

"I have been here only for a month, and I think this team has a lot of potential," he maintains. Looking at him with a lot of expectation was former Indian Olympic Association president, B Sivanthi Adityan, who is not only the VFI President,but also virtually bankrolls the federation.

The Germany-based Wasimi's Indian assistant coach, G.E Sridharan, seemed more than happy at finally having his team play outside India. "We have not had any exposure since March when we played in Iran. And we are here, it is not because of the government or anybody, but because of him," he said pointing towards Adityan. And there maybe hangs the tale of Indian sport: isolated efforts with no systematic backup.

India, who were last represented in volleyball in the 1986 edition in Seoul, where they won a bronze, were overrun by much superior opposition in the first two games. There were moments, when the Indians impressed with an occasional brilliant block or a good set-up or a smash. But by and large, their reflexes were slow, which were made to look worse in comparison to the Chinese, who are believed to be nurturing this same team for the past three years and plan to continue with them till Sydney 2000.

Though statistics were not readily available, theaverage height of the Indian players did not look inferior to the Chinese but in terms of mobility and retrieves, the gap was far too much. The Indians were at their best in the third game, and for much of the first half they held a slender lead till the Chinese caught up at 8-8 and then pulled away to win 15-11.

The Indian volleyball team fought its case to be sent here on the basis of the initial draw that put them in a group with Thailand and Lebanon but they now find themselves in a different league. Lebanon's withdrawal forced another change in the draw and the teams are now divided into two pools, with India's opponents being China, Japan, Pakistan, Kazhakstan and Iran. It will be too much hope that get into the top two for a semi-final berth, but they better make use of this chance, considering all the controversy that preceded their arrival here.