Mohali: Chinese supporting India? Well, its not a joke, it happened during fourth match of the series of Mohali.

Team India received rousing support from China's national women's cricket squad at the Punjab Cricket Association on Monday.

The 15-member Chinese squad is in India 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.

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.

thatscricket