In an unprecedented move, China will field over 400 rookie athletes
with no experience in major international events, but the nation is
still confident of grabbing the most medals at the Doha Asian
Games, December 1-15.
"Our goals is to top the medals table in terms of golds and
total medals and to ensure that China dominates the Asian Games for
the seventh time in a row," said Cai Zhenhua, a senior official of
the State General Administration of Sports (SGAS) and deputy
chef-de-mission of the 928-strong Chinese Asian Games delegation,
which includes 647 athletes.
However, surrounding officials are all keeping a low profile and
refuse to reveal the specific number of gold medals Chinese squads
are targeting.
"The Chinese delegation will strive to top the medals table for
the seventh time running," said Duan Shijie, also deputy
chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation.
"It is hard to predict how many gold medals our athletes will
win at Doha, but we will try our best to make sure we are at the
top," adds Xiao Tian, also deputy chef-de-mission.
Vice minister of the SGAS Feng Jianzhong also tried to cool down
the expectations from reports and Chinese people.
"I hope you will not say 'Chinese athletes must win or have to
win.' This time in Doha, we should say: 'We are trying to win and
trying to top the medal table.' There are a lot of factors that
will effect our performances."
Officials also dismissed reports that the Asian Games would be
seen as a major learning curve ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic
Games, saying that China's determination to send a group of
youngsters is in order to groom a new generation of medalists for
the 2008 Olympics.
"Our first goal is to give younger competitors experience, to
speed up the training of the younger competitors and to rest top
athletes who have had too many competitions and need a break," said
Duan.
Among the 647 athletes, 413 have never participated in major
international competitions and the average age of whole squad is 23
years old.
Furthermore, several established stars with world and Olympic
titles will be staying at home.
Liu Xiang, the Athens Olympic champion who set a new world
record in July this year, will lead the 41-member track and field
team that will be without 10,000m women's Olympic champion Xing
Huina, who withdrew with a knee injury.
In swimming, Athens 100m breaststroke champion Luo Xuejuan found
no place on the women's team. Big names such as badminton's Athens
gold medallist Zhang Jun, women's table tennis world No 1 Zhang
Yining and NBA Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming will also miss the
tournament.
China seized 150 gold, 84 silver and 74 bronze medals four years
ago in Busan to maintain their 20-year winning streak since the
1982 round of the Asian Games in New Delhi, India.
"We hope the Games can put our youngsters to the test and give
them a taste of what it will be like in the Olympics," said
Duan.
While China having a mortal lock on the medal race, South Korea
and Japan are expected to compete for the second spot.
South Korea consecutively ranked second in the 1998 Bangkok
Games and 2002 Busan Games, while Japan took fifth place in the
2004 Athens Olympics with 16 gold medals, beating South Korea,
which came in ninth with nine gold medals.
South Korea, which plans to send 750 athletes to 37 events, aims
to garner about 70 to 75 gold medals, according to South Korean
officials.
"Our overall objective is to get 75 gold medals to maintain our
spot in second place in the medal count," said Chung Hyon-suk, head
of the South Korean athletic squad.
Japan, excelling in judo, swimming and track and field, are
expected to win 58 to 65 gold medals.
(China Daily November 29, 2006)
