China downplays Vancouver expectations
Source: Agencies |
January 29, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA will send its largest ever Winter Olympic delegation to Vancouver for next month's Games although it has modest expectations compared to its all-conquering Summer team.
Both gold medalists from Turin four years ago, women's short-track speedskater Wang Meng and men's freestyle skier Han Xiaopeng, have recovered from injuries to take their places among the 91 Chinese competitors for the February 12-28 Games. That compares with 71 athletes for the Turin Games.
China topped the medals table with 51 golds at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, but the country is much weaker in winter sports and officials have targeted just matching their haul of two golds, four silvers and five bronzes from Turin.
"We started taking part in winter sports much later and we face great obstacles. Generally speaking we are below the level of the summer sports," Zhao Yinggang, secretary general of the delegation, told a news conference in Beijing yesterday.
"We are working hard on narrowing the gap between China's winter and summer sports.
"We should win no fewer medals than the last Games, and try to improve from last time," added Zhao, who will be one of 91 officials and coaches accompanying the athletes.
Han will lead a strong Chinese challenge in both men's and women's freestyle skiing aerials, while Wang, three strong figure skating pairs teams, women's snowboarders and the women's curling team are all strong medal hopes.
"We hope our performance at the Winter Olympics will attract the attention and support of the Chinese people and increase participation in winter sports," said Zhao.
Zhao said the state system was a key to developing winter sports, as it had done so successfully at the Summer Olympics. "Thanks to the state system, China's competitive sports have enjoyed great development."
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