Performance decides fate for Athens ( 2003-10-26 08:10) (Xinhua)
Performance will be the only criteria to decide the final list of Chinese
shooters for the Athens Olympics, said Xu Haifeng, head coach of the national
team on Saturday.
"We will decide the final squad for the next year's Olympics only from the
performance, but not the age or experience of the shooters." said Xu, who is
reviewing the youngsters during the shooting program of the 5th Chinese City
Games.
"If a young shooter without any Olympic experience performed better than the
veterans, he will be offered the opportunity to compete at Athens," Xu added,
taking Wu Liuxi, women's air rifle winner at the City Games as an example. Wu
took the third place in national team rankings after a series of qualifications
for Athens. If she keeps her form till next summer, the young sharpshooter will
definitely appear at Athens for the first time.
According to Xu, a 57-shooter list has been formed to prepare for the Athens,
of which 38 from rifle, pistol and running target while 19 from skeet and trap
target. The shooters' performances in the Asian Shooting Championships, Thailand
World Cup and the Warming-up tournament in Athens right before the Olympics will
decide the final squad.
Chinese shooters have secured 21 berths for the Athens Olympics, of which six
were won by the youngsters appeared at the City Games. And the team will strike
for anther four to five berths in the Asian championships in Malaysia next
February.
The Chinese team acquired 26 places for the Sydney Games and finally clinched
three gold medals from women's 10m air pistol, men's 10m air rifle and 10m
running target.
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