Olympic champion Du Li ends National Games trip with bronze

By (Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-19 16:27

JINAN: She came, she shot and she ended with a bronze. Twice Olympic Games gold medalist Du Li will have to be content with the third place from women's 10m air rifle team event in her assault to the podium in the National Games.

Du Li, 27, led her teammate to take the bronze medal at the 11th National Games Monday and failed to qualify for the individual final in the event.

In the qualification of women's 10m air rifle, the event which made Du Li a household name at the Athens Olympic Games five years ago, Du Li will have to take five extra shots with other seven shooters for a place in the final.

However, 0.1 point behind Wang Bingying from Jilin closed the door for Du Li, who is on her third trip for the national meet.

"I could not make the final by 0.1 point. I don't have good luck here at National Games," she said. "Maybe, I have used up my good luck at Olympic Games."

Du was a lucky dog in Olympic Games. Five year ago in Athens, she became unknown to fame with her victory in the women's 10m air rifle. In Beijing Olympic Games last year, after failing to be crowned in her event of the 10m air rifle on August 9, Du Li returned four days later, wiping off tears and shooting down the gold medal in the women's air rifle three positions.

According to her plan, Du Li, from Shandong province, will tie knot with her fiance Pang Wei, also an Olympic gold medalist, after the National Games.

"I will get married, but the date of wedding has not been fixed yet," said Du Li.