Charlton midfielder Zheng Zhi has been named as captain of China for next month's Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing.The Addicks ace is one of three overage players, alongside Shenhua full-back Li Weifeng and Shandong Luneng striker Han Peng, in the hosts' 18-man squad.

Zheng Zhi and Manchester United's Dong Fangzhuo are the only overseas players named by acting China coach Yin Tiesheng, who replaced Ratomir Dujkovic last week.

"The list of players is decided based on the team's strategy and players' current form," said Yin.

"The Olympic side will be fighting for the national dignity. I dare not ignore the responsibility of the team while selecting my 'favourite players' to compete in the high-profile event."

Due to differences of opinions on the squad, the Chinese Football Association last week sacked Serbian coach Dujkovic and demoted him to be an advisor responsible for analysing the opposition.

The CFA promoted assistant coach Yin to be the de facto manager of the team.

Yu Hai, a promising left winger who recently ended his contract with Dutch top-flight side Vitesse Arnhem, will miss the Beijing Olympics because of the knee injury.

China, who aim to reach at least the semi-finals, will meet Brazil, New Zealand and Belgium in Group C of the tournament, which begins on August 6.

Squad: Qiu Shengjiong, Liu Zhenli; Li Weifeng, Feng Xiaoting, Yuan Weiwei, Wan Houliang, Tan Wangsong; Zheng Zhi, Zhou Haibin, Cui Peng, Lu Jianjun, Hao Junmin, Zhao Xuri, Chen Tao; Han Peng, Gao Lin, Jiang Ning, Dong Fangzhuo.

Reserves: Zhang Lu, Zhu Ting, Shen Longyuan, Dai Lin.

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