Never too old to hit bull's-eye in National Games

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Never too old to hit bull's-eye in National Games

By Sportswriter Wang Chunyan (Xinhua) 16:46, September 05, 2013

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Over 30 years into a sport that demands exceptional concentration and a strong mental approach, 51-year-old shooter Gao E believes she is young.

"I am still young, at least at heart," said Gao after winning the women's trap gold medal at the Chinese National Games on Wednesday.

"National Games rules for shooting have changed quite a lot, but I am still who I am, still a gun-toting dream chaser," she said while recalling her first National Games gold won exactly 30 years ago.

The Liaoning Games is her eighth National Games.

Gao, the 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, with a bagful of World Championships and World Cup golds, still regrets missing an Olympic gold.

"Life would have been perfect if I had won an Olympic gold," she told reporters.

Gao, born in Liaoning Province, the host to the ongoing games, came out of retirement to represent Shanghai and beat 42-year-old Liu Yingzi from the central Chinese province of Hunan on Wednesday.

"I feel quite excited once I pick up the gun," she said. "I feel so good about competing."

Gao's former national shooting teammate, Tan Zongliang, felt good too, despite a silver medal finish in the men's 50m pistol final.

"It's a pleasant experience," said the 42-year-old Tan who also ranked sixth in the 10m air pistol. "I am happy about making it to both finals, which was what I had expected."

"It might be my last National Games and I am not sure if I will come back," said Tan, who had won three gold medals from six National Games with the first one won 20 years ago.

Unlike Tan, Lou Xiangwu, or "Lou Sir" as he is known to fellow shooters, is set to return.

The 43-year-old criminal policeman wrapped up his fifth National Games with a silver medal in the men's 50m pistol. Four years ago, he was the winner.

"I will come back for next games," he said.

According to organizers, 26 shooters are over 40 with Xia Zhaoyuan from Guizhou Province, born in 1966, as the oldest pistol shooter.

Wang Yifu, the Chinese shooting team head coach who has attended nine National Games as an athlete and a coach, said age doesn't really matter in shooting.

"If your hands are steady and your vision is not blurred, you can still shoot to compete," he said.

"Medals are at stake at the National Games. Veterans are coming back for medals, highly motivated."

Zhang Shan, 1992 gold medalist, will compete in the women's skeet final.

"If you see an old lady shooting skeet, that must be me," said the 45-year-old Zhang.