Preview: Gao hopes to repeat Wang's feat in Olympic shooting
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-08-16 02:30

Chinese veteran shooter Wang Yifu won an Olympic gold at the age of 44. Now compatriot Gao E is hoping to follow suit.

The second oldest athlete of Team China competing in the Athens Olympics, the 42-year-old Gao will compete in the women's trap shooting event on Monday.

With her sight set on the Athens Olympics, Gao had refused to retire after grabbing a bronze medal at the Sydney Games in 2000.

"Of course, I hope to win a gold medal in Athens," said Gao before leaving for the Aug. 13-29 Games. "But the competition there is sure to be tough."

A field of experienced markswomen, including Russian Irina Laritcheva Irina, Ukraine's world record holder Victoria Chuyko and Susanne Kiermayer of Germany, are expected to pose great threats to Gao.

But Gao, who won a World Cup race in Athens last April, should have a clear psychological edge over her rivals when they are back to the windy Markopoulo shooting center.

"The wind at the Markopoulo shooting center is rather strong," said Sun Shengwei, a Chinese national shooting coach.

"The direction of an target is prone to changes with big winds, so it may affect the athletes' performance. Anybody who adjusts more to the weather conditions has a bigger chance to win," he added.

The Markopoulo shooting center, which is about 44 kms from the city center of Athens, was built on a hillside. According to Sun, the wind speed could reach 61 kilometers per hour at peak.

Defending Olympic champion Cai Yalin of China will be a noticeable absentee in the men's 10m air rifle, the other event to be contested on Monday.

Cai, who came from nowhere to win the gold at the Sydney Games in 2000, had failed to make the Chinese Olympic roster due to low form.

Fellow countryman Li Jie and Zhu Qinan will carry the hopes of China.

American Jason Parker, winner of the 2002 World Championships, world number one Jozef Gonci of the Czech Republic and South Korean teenager Cheon Min Ho are hot favorites for the title.

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