Chinese athlete Gao Shuying, who set the Asian record of women's
pole vault at 4.52 meters in Beijing last year, took an easy win in
the event at the Busan Asian Games with 4.35 meters on Wednesday.
Gao, 23, cleared the height in her second attempt, which was the
new Asiad record. But she failed to break her own Asian
recordlater.
Gao contributed the fourth gold to the Chinese Asiad athletics
team, which put China in lead over other Asian countries and
regions in the track and field. Saudi Arabia and India followed
China with three golds each.
Gao said, "This is the first time for me to participate in the
Asian Games. I am very glad to get this gold medal."
"I
was in my normal form today. And I was confident in winning the
title." She added.
Gao started training in the track and field in 1994. At the very
beginning, she was a heptathlon athlete. But she shifted to the
pole vault in the same year.
"I
still have to improve my skill in clearing the bar. Today, Ifailed
to make a brilliant arc just over the bar. The highest point of my
attempt appeared a bit behind the bar." Gao admitted.
"Today, I used a pole which was shorter and softer than the oneI
use in trainings because the protection sponge was quite closer to
the frame. If I took the long and hard pole, it would hit me." she
said.
"Anyway, I felt really great today, and I will certainly attendthe
2004 Athens Olympic Games" she said.
Masumi Ono from Japan jumped over 4.10 meters to take the silver,
while Gao's compatriot Qin Xia got the bronze with the mark of 4.00
meters.
(Xinhua News
Agency October 9, 2002)