"At last, we just didn't grasp the chance," she let out a sigh.

A good Olympic show was all she wanted.

"We don't have to be crowned, but we must show our real capability." She became coach of the Chinese team in 2005.

At the Beijing Olympics, Chinese softball ladies beat Venezuela and Netherlands, but the success was followed by a string of defeats.

Biggest debacle came on Monday, when China lost to three-time defending champion the United States with an appalling 0-9. American's nine runs in a singe inning also tied the Olympic record which was created by Chinese Taipei in 1996.

After the match, many players cried as they didn't know if they would still have chance to compete on Olympic arena again, while the ending was so cruel.

Wang said she remained calm, but Yu Yanhong, first baseman, saw she "grieves in the heart".

"I feel sorry for those who have always cared and supported the sport," Wang said.

In fact, the sun-tanned coach noted that China wasn't technically weak. After seven games, China had 40 hits in total and sent 37 runners on base, which are the third highest result among the eight teams, yet failing to help them go further.

"They did their best, but their will was not strong enough and they lacked confidence in the matches," she said, "in retrospect, we won in the 1990s due to good mental condition. You can see firmness sparkling in the players' eyes."

However, she believed that those who had the medal had the say.

"Without a medal, all their (softballers) efforts would be erased in a few days," she said bitterly, trying to imagine what their former coach thought after the Sydney match.

"Anyway, I am the coach and I will take the blame."

Talking about her future plan, Wang said she would visit her mom at hometown first.

"I haven't seen her for quite a long time. Before my dad passed away, I even didn't have time to accompany him," she said.

She hoped that softball could return to the Olympic arena in 2016.

"At that time, I would be too old to be a coach," she smiled but appeared regretful, "but I will be there to cheer for the Chinese team."

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)