Chinese speedskaters are looking forward to ending a gold-less
run in the Winter Olympic Games, with the hope pinned on women's
skater Wang Beixing.
As Chinese short track speedskaters had picked three golds from
the past two Olympics, Chinese long track racers have been without
gold, with the best results coming from Ye Qiaobo's two silvers in
1992 and Wang Manli's one silver in 2006.
"Our ultimate goal is to win a long track speedskating gold in
the 2010 Olympic Games," said Xiao Hua, speedskating director of
the Chinese Winter Sports Administration Center, on the sideline of
the Chinese Speedskating League in Changchun, northeast China’s
Jilin Province.
The newly formed Chinese speeskating team consists of 10 skaters
including two men - Yu Fengtong and An Weijiang.
The women's skaters are Wang Fei, Wang Beixing, Xing Aihua, Wang
Manli, Sheng Xiaomei, Ren Hui, Zhang Shuang and Jin Peiyu.
Wang Beixing, who finished second in a world record time of
37.24 seconds in the Salt Lake City world championships, has taken
the leading role from veteran Wang Manli, who had been sidelined
for one year since her runner-up finish in the Turin Olympics.
"She has risen very quickly," said Xiao Hua of the 22-year-old
Wang Beixing. "She has talent and skills."
"She is China's hope to end a long track speedskating gold
drought at the Olympics," Xiao added.
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2007)