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| China's first Winter Games gold medalist Yang
Yang |
China is aiming for a Winter Olympic gold medal in snow sports for the
first time, officials said yesterday, as the Chinese Winter Olympic
delegation for the upcoming Turin Games was set up.
"The Chinese winter sports athletes will strive for gold medals in the
freestyle skiing aerials, short track speed
skating, speed skating short distance events and
figure skating," said Xiao
Tian, vice director of the State General Administration of Sports.
"We hope to achieve better results than at the last Games in Salt Lake
City, where China won its first ever Winter Olympic gold medal by Yang
Yang on the short track."
At the last Winter Olympics, China pocketed two gold medals and a
silver from the short track speed skating, and a bronze medal for figure
skating. This time, it is eyeing a breakthrough in snow sports.
"We hope to achieve better results in snow events, especially in free
style skiing aerials and biathlon," said Xiao. "It will also be the first
time we send more athletes in snow events than on ice."
Led by the aerials world champion Li Nina and the 1998 winter Olympic
silver medallist Xu Nannan, the women's team undoubtedly shoulders the
responsibility of the medal task.
Since both of the other two young skiers Guo Xinxin and Zhang Xin have
stepped on the podium at the World Cup series, the team is ready to make
history.
In its eighth Winter Olympic Games since first appearing at the 1980
Lake Placid Winter Olympics, China, the coming summer Olympic powerhouse,
has sent out its largest delegation for the Turin Games, which will run
from February 10 to 16.
(China Daily) | 
