Feature: Prosperous Future for Trampoline in China

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 25, 2001

Feature: Prosperous Future for Trampoline in China

In a few years'time, the sporting world might see a new trampoline worldpower emerging in the East.

In a few years'time, the sporting world might see a new trampoline worldpower emerging in the East.

China has seen "a booming picture" in the development of the sport introduced from abroad only three years ago, predicted Zhang Jian, a leading official with the State General Administrative of Sports, who is in charge of the sport.

"The new sport has made a tremendous headway," Zhang told Xinhua, referring to what he described as "astonishing performance" of young Chinese athletes at this year's junior world championships in July in Denmark. The novice athletes bagged home three golds, four silvers and one bronze, to the surprise of such worldpower as Britain, Russia, France and Australia.

The unexpected results in Denmark have greatly boosted China's confidence, considering that it had resulted for so short a period of efforts, against that by the world powerhouses who had experience for more than three decades.

The nationwide registration of trampoline athletes has reached 260 since 1998, with 18 provincial and municipal sports institutes taking up the discipline, according to Gao Jian, another ranking official in charge of trampoline.

Gao owed the fast development of trampoline to the "Olympic strategy" program, saying it had served as an incentive to local sports authorities.

Since the sport made its Olympic debut last year in Sydney, with two golds at stake, the Chinese national sports authorities have stepped up efforts in promoting the sport. A target had been set for China to win an Olympic medal, whatever color, at the 2004 Games in Athens and an Olympic gold medal in the 2008 Games back in Beijing, especially for the women's team.

China established its national governing body the Chinese Trampoline and Acrobatic Gymnastics Association last April, with Zhang and Gao as president and vice-president, for the management,development, training and competition affairs.

The national and local sports authorities had put in a considerable sum of investment and made it an official medal sport, at the current Ninth National Games. T total of four golds are on offer.

The optimistic approach of the sports officials was not something out of the blue. It had been based on "a profound and solid foundation in China", as gymnastics had been practiced for 46 years, Gao said.

With similar mi-air movements and skills, trampoline has long been a compulsory part of training sessions for Chinese gymnasts, acrobatic gymnasts and divers, while their experience could help avoid themselves being led astray, said Gao, a former national coach himself.

Chinese trampoline has also enjoyed the benefit that most athletes had been former athletes in acrobatic gymnastics, a non-Olympic sport, according to Gao.

Traditional provincial powerhouses of acrobatic gymnastics such as eastern coastal provinces of Jiangsu and Fujian are likely to be the country's future leaders in trampoline, Gao said.

The first two trampoline gold medals, for the team events, in the history of China's national games went to Jiangsu's men's team and Fijian's women's squad.

The comparatively smaller body composure has made Chinese suitable for the sport of acrobatic gymnastics and they are in the same case in terms of exercising trampoline.

"The standard of adult trampoline athletes has reached a medium-level while youngsters also displayed great potential in domestic and international competitions," a satisfactory Gao said.

But worries exist for the future of the sport in China.

"There are no leading figures and experienced coaches and judges are badly needed," said Gao. The country's sports authorities had sponsored several training picnics for coaches and referees.

The sport's development would be hindered if a country's has no qualified coaches and competent referees who have a good comprehension of international rules, Gao said.

So far as the current situation is concerned, China needs to hire coaches and referees from abroad, the official said. He said he had noticed that Fujian and Tianjin had already invited foreign coaches for their teams.

"One our coaches are up to the world standard, China would become a trampoline giant in the world," said Zhang.