JINAN, Shandong province: Competing at her sixth National Games, former Olympic shooting champion Zhang Shan not only drew on her vast experience but also her new role as coach of the Indian team to claim silver in the women's skeet event yesterday.

"Coaching the India team has given me an opportunity to view shooting from a new angle and refresh my mind toward the sport and that helped me achieve my result today," said 41-year-old Zhang after the event in Jinan.

"I am very satisfied with my result and I give myself 100 points."

Zhang lost to national team member Yu Xiumin by two shots.

Picking up shooting at the age of 16, Zhang joined the national team in 1989.

One year later, she swept the women's skeet individual and team titles at the World Skeet Championships and then won the national title. The following year, she collected the skeet title at the World Shooting Championships.

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Zhang, then 24, claimed the gold medal in skeet, which was an event for both men and women at that time. She became the first female to win the event in Olympic history.

She was invited to coach the India team earlier this year and signed a one-year contract in June.

"I have been an athlete for more than two decades and in recent years I have found it hard to improve. So, I wanted to view the sport from a different angle," Zhang told China Daily. "I dare not say I will help them a lot because shooting in India is at a lower level but I can bring something new to them and help them a little."

Although she has only been in charge for a short time, Zhang has already enjoyed success as a coach. At the Asian Championships in September, one of her Indian shooters claimed silver in women's skeet shooting.

"She achieved more than 70 points for the first time, which is also my mark, I think," Zhang said.

Competing in her sixth National Games, Zhang said she still enjoyed the sport and had no immediate thoughts of retirement.

"I enjoy competition very much," said Zhang. "I didn't feel nervous while shooting and just performed within myself here. Winning or losing is not that important for me now. I just want to enjoy the competition.

"Shooting is my only interest, so I have never thought of retiring. I will go on with it."

(China Daily 10/22/2009 page22)