Buoyant Xu sees silver lining

Disqualifications prove costly, but London champ vows to sail on

China's Xu Lijia leans into a turn during the laser radial competition. BENOIT TESSIER/REUTERS

Navigating waves and squalls at sea, Chinese sailing star Xu Lijia has fully embraced the sport despite a disappointing end to her third Olympics.

As the sun blazed down on the waves in Rio's Guanabara Bay on Saturday afternoon, Xu and her small boat loomed on the horizon, gradually becoming clearer as she steered to shore after the 10th race in the laser radial regatta.

Hit by a shoulder injury and three disqualification penalties in previous rounds, Xu finished the race 18th overall, missing out on the chance to defend the title she won at the 2012 London Games.

Still, the 28-year-old took it all in stride.

"I won't end up complaining that the officiating was unfair, although I felt pretty sad about that (the three disqualification penalties)," said Xu, who won China's first gold medal in the event four years ago.

Citing interference and contact with their boats, three opponents filed protests against Xu in the second, seventh and eighth races.

The event's arbitration board ruled in their favor and disqualified Xu in all three races, throwing her out of the top-10 final qualification group.

"The result is a little disappointing, but to be able to come back and make the Olympics again, I am happy enough," said Xu, who retired for two years after competing at the 2013 National Games for her native Shanghai team.

During her two-year hiatus, the soft-spoken Xu finished her undergraduate studies in human resource management at Shanghai's Jiao Tong University.