Withy young boys from China beat Thai contestants in boys'
volleyball finals on Monday, last day of the four-day 40th
International Children's Games hosted by Bangkok of Thailand, by
scores 25:18 and 25:15 in a three-set match.
The Chinese boys, with an average height of over 180cm, bears
little resemblance to the "blooming little angels" as the Games'
motto call the young athletes, and they did fight with mature
skills as adults, though it was the first time they gave
performance on an alien land.
The Chinese team representing Zhenjiang, a city in eastern
Jiangshu Province of China, were engaged in the short, fierce final
contest with Thai boys from northeastern Thai province Nakhon
Ratchasrima, after beating compatriots from Hong Kong, China in
semi-finals earlier Monday morning.
The Thai team also beat a fellow team representing host Bangkok
before entering the final. They failed to seize the title before a
Thai audience and a cheering squad in yellow T-shirts, worn by most
Thais on Monday to pay tribute to the Thai Royal family. To their
comfort, Thai girls secured a gold in the girls' volleyball final
held earlier on the day, with the team of Thailand's Khon Kaen
province beating the one from Ayutthaya by 25:20 and 25:17 in a
successive two-set win.
Dozens of young athletes from China's Hong Kong and Macao,
though either team harvested no gold, have been hopping to cheer
out "Show your strength, Chinese team!" for their fellow boys in
the field, and offered warm hugs for the winners.
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)
