A record-breaking 28 teams will participate in the upcoming 2014 Federation of International Volleyball Bureau (FIVB) Volleyball World Grand Prix slated to start on July 25.

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The World Grand Prix is the premiere women's volleyball tournament formed by FIVB and the 28 teams were split into three divisions based on world rankings with the top 12 ranking nations to compete in Division 1.

The top 12 countries are: 2012 Olympic Gold medalist Brazil, United States, Japan, Italy, China, Russia, Serbia, Dominican Republic, Germany, South Korea, Turkey and Thailand.

The teams will play each other via Pools (A - I) consisting of four countries for three weeks in various host countries.

China, whose head coach is 1984 Olympic Gold medalist Lang Ping and top hitter Ting Zhu, hopes to best last year's finish, placing second to nine-time Grand Prix winners Brazil.

China will play at Pool C to be hosted in Rome, Italy; Pool F in Hong Kong, China and Pool I in Macau, China.

China, currently ranked No. 5 by the FIVB, will have their hands full as they battle it out against No. 1 ranked Brazil, No. 4 Italy and No. 8 Dominican Republic in Pool C.

In Pool F, China will go up against Japan, Italy and Thailand.

And finally in Pool I, the Chinese nationals will fight it off with Japan, Serbia and South Korea.

Other countries that will be participating in Division 2 are: Poland, Peru, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Netherlands, Canada, Cuba and Belgium.

And the last eight competing teams of Division 3 are: Kenya, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Czech Republic, Mexico, Bulgaria and Australia.

The top four of Division 1 and winners of Divisions 2 and 3 will comprise the final six that will battle it out in Japan for the covenant World Grand Prix title scheduled to take place in August.

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