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MOHALI The Indian team received rousing support from some unlikely fans here on Monday with members of China's national women's cricket squad cheering raucously from the stands.
They inevitably drew a lot of attention from curious locals at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium, hosting India's fourth game of a seven-match one-day series against Australia.
The 15-member squad is here to learn the nuances of a sport unfamiliar in their country as they prepare for the Asian Games, to be held in the Chinese city of Guangzhou from November 12-27 next year.
'We love Sachin Tendulkar,' the girls screamed in unison when asked to name their favourite Indian player.
Team coach Mamatha Maben, a former India women's international, said cricket was virtually unknown in China a decade ago but the girls were learning the sport fast.
'They have an incredible desire to learn the game,' Maben told AFP as she joined the players in the packed stands.
'You will be surprised by their knowledge of the game and their zest to catch up with the rest of the cricket-playing world.
'We are not looking at winning medals next year at the Games but in the next five-six years we are confident of being pretty competitive.'
In a Twenty20 tournament organised by the Asian Cricket Council in Malaysia last year, the Chinese women reached the semi-finals before losing to Thailand.
They are being taught only Twenty20 cricket because that format will be played at the Asian Games, where the sport is making its debut.
China have gained automatic qualification in both the men's and women's competition by virtue of being the hosts next year.
'The girls have a fair idea about 50-over cricket though,' said Maben, who took over as the national coach in March.
'They have been overwhelmed by the craze for the game in India. To see thousands of fans pouring in to watch this game is pretty exciting for them.
They didn't know cricket was so big in this country.
'A part of our training in China involves watching a lot of cricket DVDs.
That way the girls get to see quality cricket and learn the game as well. But to see a match in person has been an unbelievable experience for them.'
Captain Mei Chun Hua, who understands English but can speak only a little bit, like most her squad members, said the team will go back home richer in experience.
'We will love to meet Tendulkar or (Virender) Sehwag if they agree,' she giggled.
'They play big shots and are very daring.'
The squad are in Mohali as guests of Punjab Cricket Association chief Inderjit Singh Bindra, an adviser with the International Cricket Council who is charged with making cricket a global sport.
The ICC sees China as the next big market for cricket and regularly sends coaches and officials there to popularise the sport.
Former Pakistan international Rashid Khan coaches China's men's team.
