Former Zhejiang Chouzhou Basketball Club coach Li Xin's arbitration case will begin Tuesday, the first in Chinese basketball.

Li penned a three-year deal with Zhejiang's women's team last year, according to a statement posted on her Sina Weibo on Monday, but the club dismissed the coach after the team finished in fourth place in the WCBA.

Li, who won a silver medal as a player for the Chinese national team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, was the head coach of the Chinese women's national under-19 team before taking the reins at Zhejiang.

Zhejiang were defeated finalists in the ­2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons under Zheng Wu. Bringing in WNBA star Brittney Griner and China ­international Chen Xiaoli last year showed the board's strong desire for the WCBA championship title.

When the team failed to complete their "mission" of winning the championship, Li was informed in April by club president Zhao Bing of her sacking. She was offered three months' ­salary and a position of vice-general manager of the club.

The ceremonial position, with an annual salary drop of nearly 500, 000 yuan ($80,500), cornered Li after two of her demands were denied by the club.

Li appealed to Chinese basketball governing body in May, but the CBA distanced itself from the dispute. Li applied for arbitration in June, requiring the club to fulfill her contract.

Mutual termination is widely used in Chinese basketball when two Chinese are in a contract ­dispute, while foreign players or coaches can  hold the upper hand after appealing to the world governing body, FIBA.

Many consider players and coaches unions are to be necessary in Chinese sports.