Women's epee team settles for silver, markswoman Du eyes retirement

Daniel Levavasseur, head coach of Chinese national epee team, cheer up for his player during the women's epee team final at Carioca Arena 3, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 11, 2016. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/chinadaily.com.cn]

The defending Chinese women's epee team settled for the silver medal after losing to Romania 38-44 in the final in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

Frenchman Daniel Levavasseur, head coach of Chinese national epee team, announced that he will leave the team after the Rio Olympics as his contract is due soon. But the 69-year-old Frenchman said he will continue to help train Chinese coaches in the future.

"I have been coaching the Chinese team in the past six years, and now I feel like I’m almost a Chinese in some way. I love my team and I love China," said Daniel Levavasseur.

China's Du Li competes in the women's 50 metre rifle three position at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 11, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

In the shooting games, Chinese female shooters Zhang Binbin and Du Li won a silver and a bronze in the women's 50-meter rifle three positions on Thursday, with Germany's Barbara Engleder of Germany grabbing the gold.

During the post-match interview, Du Li told reporters that she is likely to stop training after the Rio games, hinting at retirement after a long career.

Du had to settle for bronze after she scored only an 8.6 on her final shot. "I didn't want to finish my last Olympics with that score, but that just happens during the Olympics," said Du. "At least I have a silver and a bronze medal in Rio 2016."

The veteran shooter scooped silver in women's 10 meter rifle on August 6. Du also won two gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics respectively.