Efforts promised for China's winter sports
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-28 06:07

"It should be my last Olympic Games," said Zhao, 32. "Although I failed to reach the gold, I have tried my best."

Turin's Palavela ice rink also saw the last Olympic appearances for China's short track speed skaters Yang (A) and Li Jiajun.

Li, the bronze medallist at the men's 1,500m, decided to say goodbye to his 20 years' skating career after competing in his fourth Olympic Games, while Yang (A), who settled for a bronze at the women's 1,000m race, also declared her retirement.

"This should be my last Olympic competition and I'm happy that our team has welcomed the new leader Wang," said Yang (A) after the 1,000m race. "I love short track skating, so all I did for it is worthwhile."

Yang (A) has also decided to donate her prize money from the bronze medal to the "Right to Play" foundation. "Since I'm going to retire, I want to leave something for sports," she said.

Veteran skater Wang Manli has not decided about her plans. A silver medal in the women's 500m speed skating race left the 33-year-old in tears as she was expected to take the gold on the basis of her consistently good performance in the recent two seasons.

"I want a good rest now," Wang said after returning from Turin. "I will decide whether to retire later."