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Gymnastic Head Coach Sets Duel with Russia
China's gymnastic head coach Huang Yubin is squaring up to Russian counterpart Leonid Arkaev for the prestigious men's team title in the Sydney Olympic Games.
The coaches, who have both led their teams to multiple world titles, announced the rosters of their Olympic squads earlier this month and included the men's team title in their games targets.
"Arkaev is cunning and experienced, and it seems he knows all the tricks to win,'' Huang said of his long-time rival. " However I have proved in the past years that I can defeat him and this time I believe I also know the way to stop him in Sydney,'' the former China's world champion who is called "Champion coach,'' said during a ceremony held for the team leaving for the games last Wednesday.
"Both of us want that title but there is only one winner. And today I would like to say it again -- there is little doubt that the title will go to China,''said Huang, showing a confidence which is rarely seen among the traditionally implicit Chinese Olympic teams.
Huang had won the nearest cross-sword with Arkaev on home soil in last year's World Championship, leading the team to their fourth consecutive championships.
Such a shining record in the championships gives the current Chinese side a clear edge over the Russians and makes them the favourites to win.
Marked by China men's team's first victory over the Former Soviet Union in the 1983 championships, the Sino-Russian battle on the event went into overdrive, particularly in 1990s.
China has won the team title four times in a row in the championships since 1993, but failed to win in the Olympics.
Despite being strong gold contenders, they were behind the Russians who triumphed both in 1996 and 1992 when Russia participated with their former republics.
Huang said he is not going to let that happen again and said Sydney Games is "the best time to beat Arkaev.''
"We have taken all kinds of world titles and never tasted an Olympic gold. All of my team and I can not wait any longer,'' he said.
Huang said only after collecting the title so far missing from their trophy cabinet, can they legitimately entertain the title of "Dream Team''.
China has sent a nine-man team to Sydney, headed by five-time world titlist Li Xiaopeng. The leading name in the Russian team is the Atlanta Olympic champion and double winner in the Tianjin World Championships, Alexei Nemov.
Locking on the men's title, the Chinese experts also expect a gold medal to come in another eight events to complete their two-gold task.
"It is good to see we are relatively strong in many events, especially on the men's side,'' said Zhang Jian, head of the Chinese national gymnastic office.
"We have set two or more ace gymnasts on each event,'' Zhang said.
Lou Yun won the men's vaulting horse title for China in 1988 Seoul Olympics and Xiao Junfeng is possible to repeat the feat.
Zhang said Xiao will present a difficult jump which has been executed by only two gymnasts in the world. A good landing will mean a gold for Xiao. Winner of the event in the Tianjin championships, Li will try to ensure the win.
Rings world champion Dong Zhen, beam world champions Liu Xuan and Ling Jie also carry gold hopes.
Beating Russian beauty Svetlana Khorkina on the uneven bars still drives the team who won the event twice in previous Olympics.
Having failed both in 1996 and Tianjin when Bi Wenjing and Huang Mandan were nipped by the Russian who is famous for her unusual grace, the Chinese camp wants to stop Khorkina with bars sensations Ling and Huang.
"First we have to ensure that those aces can do well in the preliminaries to qualify for the finals. Once they do that, their winning chances will be large,'' Zhang said. (Chinadaily)
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