Bai eyes defense of Beijing title

Slides
Photos

By Tang Yue (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-17 13:36

After winning the women's marathon at the World Championships in Berlin last month, China's Bai Xue is now focusing on defending her title at the Beijing International Marathon, which will start at Tiananmen Square on Oct 18.

Bai Xue of China displays her medal during the awards ceremony for the women's marathon at the world athletics championships at the Olympic stadium in Berlin August 23, 2009.[Agencies]

If the 20-year-old wins this year's race she will collect two gold medals as the event doubles as the marathon of the 11th National Games.

China's top 30 marathoners will race for the Games' first track and field event, which has also attracted elite runners from abroad.

Bai's participation has been confirmed by Wang Dawei, deputy director of China Track and Field Association.

"The Beijing International Marathon is a very important event in the world and the National Games is the most important one in China; there's no reason for Bai Xue to miss it," Wang said. "I believe China's team will put up a good performance this year."

Joining Bai in China's squad is Zhou Chunxiu, the bronze medalist at last year's Beijing Olympic Games and the 4th-place finisher in Berlin last month, and Zhu Xiaolin and Sun Weiwei, who finished 5th and 13th at the Worlds .

The Beijing International Marathon will offer $20,000 for both the male and female winners this year and a $42,195 bonus for an event record-breaker.

About 30,000 runners will compete in four events: the full marathon (42.195km), a half marathon (21.0975 km), a 9km race and a mini marathon (4.2kDam).

About 800 overseas competitors will travel to Beijing to compete, according to Wang. That does not include foreigners residing in Beijing.