Feature: Chinese Women Judokas Predicted to Continue as World Leaders

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Feature: Chinese Women Judokas Predicted to Continue as World Leaders

After winning four gold medals at the 21st World University Games last August in Beijing, Chinese women judokas displayed their strength again at the four-day competition of the sport at China's National Games, which concluded Monday in Zhongshan city of Guangdong.

And China's amateur sports schools located nationwide had provided a solid backing to the glamous Chinese triumph so far at world-class events. And experts are predicting a sustained Chinese lead in the world of women's judo.

The judo competition held in Zhongshan of Guangdong Province, 94 kilometers southeast of provincial capital Guangzhou, had drawn a field of 35 municipal and provincial teams with over 260 athletes, including those from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, for a total of 16 gold medals on offer.

Northeast China's Liaoning provincial team won seven and a half gold medals to top the medal tally, followed by hosts Guangdong with 2.5. If an athletes wins a title when representing a team other than his or her native one, the two teams split the gold medal for their medal standings.

"Sun Fuming and Li Yanfu are experienced athletes, and they performed steadily in today's competition," Liu Yongfu, coach of the Liaoning team, said of his pupils. Sun won an Olympic gold medal at Atlanta.

Sun and Li defeated their opponents, all by a Ippon, to snatch the women's over-78kg and 78kg category titles on Friday. labeled as a "gold medal coach", Liu has fostered some of China's world and Olympic champion judokas.

"We have paid special attention to bringing up of younger athletes. There are 15 amateur sports schools in Liaoning with over 300 pupils practicing judo. Our judo team recruits some 10 new blood every year," said Liu.

Song Zhaonian, Vice-president and secretary-general of the Chinese Judo Association, added more in this regard. "We divide our athletes of provincial teams into two groups, with one preparing for the 2004 Olympic games and the other for the 2008 Games in Beijing."

Of the women winners at this year's national games, a 19-year-old drew the limelight of the media. She is Wang Haixia of Guangdong, winner of the 70kg category.

"It is really unexpected for me to get this," said a shy Wang after the victory. Wang is a student of a Beijing sports school subordinated to the Beijing Sports University.

Wang didn't hesitate to give a positive answer when asked if she wanted to be in the Athens Olympic Games. Her idea was echoed by her coach. "Our ultimate goal is to be in the Olympic Games for good results," Wang said. The up-and-coming judoka had won at the 1999 National Intercity Games and a bronze at last year's world junior championships.

Not quite satisfied with her results, however, Wang said she would make unremitting efforts in the future training after returning to her school.

"Strict management of the team and tough training exercises with scientific method for athletes are the key factors leading to good results," Song said referring to measures to keep the momentum of women's judo.

"Since we have gained gold metals in judo events at Olympic games, it is our continued aim to win more champions at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics," said Song with confidence.

Liaoning Overwhelms Games' Judo Events

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