BANGKOK - The Thai women's volleyball team are eyeing another win overt China at the 16th Asian Championship next month, Bangkok Post reported on Tuesday.

The squad arrived here Monday after finishing sixth in the eight-team FIVB World Grand Prix Finals in Macao where they defeated hosts China for one of the biggest wins in the country's sporting history.

Thailand reached the finals for the first time in nine attempts and finished ahead of seventh-placed Italy and China who were last.

The Thais also lost to Russia, Serbia and Japan in the finals.

Thailand finished 10th overall in last year's Grand Prix. Thai officials said earlier that reaching the finals for the first time is already an achievement for Asian champions Thailand and that finishing sixth in the eight-team finals is a bonus.

Thailand will defend its title at the September 15-23 Asian Championship in Taiwan. The Thais beat China in the 2009 final for their first-ever victory over the Chinese to win their maiden Asian crown.

Pleumjit Thinkaow, arguably the most popular Thai volleyball player, said it would be a bigger achievement if Thailand beat China at the Asian Championship.

"We want to beat the Chinese team in Taiwan," she said. "But we must not put too much pressure on ourselves."

The Asian Championship is crucial because the champions will qualify for 2012 London Olympics.

Thailand captain Wilavan Apinyapong said their success in Macao was a result of their teamwork and making few mistakes.

Head coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkrai said the World Grand Prix result proved that his team had constantly made progress.

The 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix was a women's volleyball tournament played by 16 teams from August 5 to 28. The finals was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome in Macao. The US team finished the first place, following by Brazil and Serbia as the second and third place receptively.