The US volleyball team led by Chinese volleyball legend Lang Ping beat China 3-2 in the team's first meeting of the Beijing Olympics. Media call it "he ping da zhan", or "peace battle", a combination of the two coaches' names. The clashes become the focus of intense media attention.

Even though China lost the match, most spectators were satisfied seeing a top-level competition. An article in Beijing News carries a commentary saying that it is a pity that China lost the match, but the Chinese also feel proud of Lang Ping who is the pride of China's volleyball.

China's women's volleyball team has been the pride of China since the 1980s when Lang Ping and her teammates won five consecutive international crowns, including the Olympics, the World Championships and a number of Word Cups.

The paper says Lang Ping belongs to the whole world. As a head coach of the US team, she can be seen as the cultural bridge between China and the United States.

It also notes in recent years, more and more Chinese athletes go abroad to play games. Like Yao Ming, the famous basketball player who joined the Houston Rockets is a hero of the nation as well. It concludes that no matter what the result will be, Chinese fans are becoming more and more open-minded and confident when they face issues of patriotism.