Better medical classification to help China 7-a-side footbal

China's 7-a-side football will achieve good results at the Beijing Paralympics with more reasonable medical classification of the players, said Bob Fisher, chairman of the Football Committee of the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association, on Monday.

Fisher is on an inspecting tour in Kunming for the 7th Chinese National Games for the Disabled to study the development of the sport for the people with cerebral palsy or a related neurological condition in China.

"China's 7-a-side football started only two years ago, but its rapid development impressed me a lot," said Fisher.

"I think there are some things needed to be improved, like the selection of players," said Fisher, "It's little bit too strict in the medical classification."

In countries where 7-a-side football has developed more quickly, their footballers display more skills, not like those in China where there are clear differences between CP6 and CP8, said the official.

"There aren't so obvious differences in other countries, thus they can select good footballers much easier."

Fisher further suggested that China consider choosing footballers from the athletes, go through the files in hospitals for the children with less serious cerebral palsy illness, and train them the earlier the better in order to attract more children into the sport.

"Good luck to the Chinese team during the Paralympic Games next year," said Fisher who will leave for home on Tuesday