Olympic champion Liu Zige confirms not to compete in Asian Games

China's Olympic swimming champion Liu Zige confirmed on Wednesday that she will not show up at the coming Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou in November.

Liu, the Olympic champion and world record holder in the women's 200m butterfly, missed two national competitions this year as well as the Pan Pacific Championships in the United Stats in mid August.

"It's not a pity I miss the Asian Games, it's a continental games," said Liu.

"But, it's really a pity to miss the Pan Pacific, losing a chance to challenge the best swimmers in the world," said the swimmer, explaining that the reason was the refusal of a US visa for her coach Jin Wei.

Jin, the long time coach of Liu since she was 10, said he was refused the visa application after the officer in the US embassy in Beijing said she has never heard about Pan Pacific Championships and asked him to provide working identification card and a business card as a national team coach.

"I had my official passport, a letter from China's Foreign Ministry, invitation letters from Pan Pacific organizers and USA Swimming Coach Association with me. But the embassy officer asked me identification card and business card. All the national team coaches and athletes don't have these certification," Jin said.

Liu thus quit a second day appointment as a result.

"I can not go to the competition without my coach," Liu said. "I also don't have identification card and business card to prove myself as a national swimmer."

"There are few international swim events this year, it is a pity I could not swim in the Pan Pacific. Maybe I will compete in the Dubai world short course championships later this year. It depends on my training schedule."

"I want to choose some big events and expect real challenge with good competitors to improve myself, just like any other top swimmers in the world," Liu said.

Source: Xinhua