China Takes Universiade as Warm-up for Athens Olympics

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 27, 2003

China Takes Universiade as Warm-up for Athens Olympics

China has played down the importance of a gold harvest in the 22nd World University Games with an eye on next year's Olympic Games in Athens.

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China has played down the importance of a gold harvest in the 22nd World University Games with an eye on next year's Olympic Games in Athens.

Pan Zhichen, deputy chief of the Chinese delegation, told a press conference Wednesday that China will not get carried away though it now tops the overall medal standings after six days of competition at the Universiade in Daegu.

With five days to go, China now has 17 golds, 12 silvers and five bronzes to lead the medal table, followed by South Korea and Russia.

"We only take the Universiade as a warm-up for the Athens Olympics," said Pan.

China, who finished atop the medal tally at last Universiade in2001, has dispatched a 300-strong delegation to the biennial sporting event, with 229 athletes competing in 12 sports and 162 events.

Chinese athletes had an "unexpectedly" strong showing in some events so far competed at the 11-day Universiade, said Pan.

China claimed four out of eight available Tuesday in track and field, which has been the long-time Achilles' heel for the country.Swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng also pulled off a surprise victory in the men's 200m backstroke in a Universiade record of 1:59.17.

Duan Shijie, chief of the Chinese delegation, said upon his departure from Beijing for the Universiade that China aimed to win more than 10 gold.

"We set a modest target before the Universiade because we knew little about other teams at that time," Pan explained.

"Therefore, we have adjusted our goal accordingly as we now have a better understanding about our rivals," he added.

China is expected to pick up more medals from diving, swimming,gymnastics, said Pan.

But he was reluctant to make any predication about the number. "Of course, the more medals we win, the better," he said.

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