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Hopes high on snow for China
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-07 06:33

With Chinese athletes reaching the top three positions at last season's world cup series and 2005 Biathlon World Championships, China is now more confident in this event.

"The best result that China achieved in this event is fifth and our women's team is strong at present," said Wang Yitao, secretary general of the Chinese team. "We hope for better results than at the last Games."

Take part for experience

As for the other snow events, China is so weak that their aim of participating in the Games is merely to practice and gain experience for the future Games.

"Our level in some snow events, like snowboarding, ski jumping, Alpine skiing and cross country skiing, is pretty low," said Wang. "We just want these teams to practice and raise their level."

Wang hopes that China will be able to catch up countries strong in these events as soon as possible and all the four teams have been sent to train abroad in recent years and some foreign coaches have been invited over.

These efforts have helped achieve some satisfactory results.

"Having only started in China three years ago, the snowboard half pipe event has developed quickly," said Wang. "It has become more and more popular in China now and Pan Lei claimed the silver medal at last year's Universiade."

Pan and Sun Zhifeng, 14, the youngest athletes in the whole delegation, will make the Olympic debut in the event for China.

"With increased popularity in the sport, Alpine skiing has significantly developed in recent years," said Wang. "We hope that our athletes will finish top among Asian competitors in Turin."

China will also enter for the first time in ski jumping.

Sponsored by Gericom, an Austrian computer company, five Chinese skiers were selected to train in Austria in April 2003. They have made some improvements over the past two years. Tian Zhandong, 22, became the first Chinese to accumulate World Cup ranking points last season by being placed 48 in Austria.
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