China eyes gold in four events in Turin By Lei Lei (China Daily) Updated: 2006-01-19 07:06
China is aiming for a Winter Olympic gold medal in snow sports for the first
time, officials said yesterday, as the Chinese Winter Olympic delegation for the
upcoming Turin Games was set up.
China's first
Winter Games gold medalist Yang Yang | "The
Chinese winter sports athletes will strive for gold medals in the freestyle
skiing aerials, short track speed skating, speed skating short distance events
and figure skating," said Xiao Tian, vice director of the State General
Administration of Sports.
"We hope to achieve better results than at the last Games in Salt Lake City,
where China won its first ever Winter Olympic gold medal by Yang Yang on the
short track."
At the last Winter Olympics, China pocketed two gold medals and a silver from
the short track speed skating, and a bronze medal for figure skating. This time,
it is eyeing a breakthrough in snow sports.
"We hope to achieve better results in snow events, especially in free style
skiing aerials and biathlon," said Xiao. "It will also be the first time we send
more athletes in snow events than on ice."
Led by the aerials world champion Li Nina and the 1998 winter Olympic silver
medallist Xu Nannan, the women's team undoubtedly shoulders the responsibility
of the medal task.
Since both of the other two young skiers Guo Xinxin and Zhang Xin have
stepped on the podium at the World Cup series, the team is ready to make
history.
In its eighth Winter Olympic Games since first appearing at the 1980 Lake
Placid Winter Olympics, China, the coming summer Olympic powerhouse, has sent
out its largest delegation for the Turin Games, which will run from February 10
to 16.
According to officials, 76 Chinese winter athletes will participate in 47
events from nine disciplines of three sports at Turin. They will join the
competitions in ski jumping and snowboard for the first time.
"The average age of the athlete is 23.05," introduced by Duan Shijie, another
deputy chief-de-mission of the delegation. "63 per cent of the athlete will
experience their first Olympics."
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