China hopes to clinch more than two shooting golds at Athens ( 2003-10-26 08:10) (Xinhua)
Chinese shooters will try their best to clinch more than two golds at the
Athens Olympics, revealed Xu Haifeng, head coach of the national team Saturday.
"Although the State General Sports Administration has not fixed a target for
shooting at Athens yet, we hope to secure more than two golds," Xu said.
"However, we will try our best to grab as many golds as possible without
allowing even one to slip off from our hands."
Chinese shooters have secured 21 berths for the Athens Olympics. And they
will strike for anther four to five berths in the Asian championships in
Malaysia next February.
According to Xu, who shot down the first Olympic gold for China in Los
Angeles, a 57-shooter list has been formed to prepare for the Athens. The
shooters' performances in the Asian Shooting Championships, the Thailand leg of
World Cup and the Warming-up tournament in Athens right before the Olympics will
decide the final squad.
The Chinese shooters clinched three gold medals from women's 10m air pistol,
men's 10m air rifle and 10m running target at the Sydney Olympics, of which
women's 10m air pistol title from Tao Luna was the first gold of the Chinese
delegation.
"We will do the best to take the first title for China at Athens as we did in
Sydney. But the foreign sharpshooters and the great pressure on the Chinese
shooters will be two obstacles for us," said Xu.
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