Chinese volleyball champion coach eyes move to West

Li Mu, left, head coach of the Beijing Basic Motor volleyball club, takes interview after returning with a champion's title to Beijing, Feb 4, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

Chinese volleyball still lags far behind world's top level, according to a champion coach.

Li Mu, head coach of the league champion Beijing Basic Motor volleyball club, said scientific and advanced techniques used by Western teams are inaccessible to Chinese volleyball coaches.

The 43-year-old led Beijing to a champion's title in 2012 and was awarded the Best Coach of the Season, ending the last season with the highest honor of his 13-year-long coaching career.

But Li still worries about the future of Chinese volleyball. "There's a huge gap between Chinese men's volleyball and world's top players," Li said.

He hopes to learn top techniques in Western clubs. "I would like to learn in a top club for a whole season, like warm-ups before a game, team cooperation…"

"I wish to experience it by myself instead of watching videos." Li said.