China to Make Aquatic ShiftsThe Water Sports Management Center of the State General Administration of Sports recently decided that China's aquatic sports will be shifted to sailboat, sailboard, and kayaking slalom events, which emphasize more skills than physical strength.Xi Youyu, vice-director of the Water Sports Management Center said that altogether 41 golds are categorized under aquatic events of Olympics. Only by a shift to giving prominence to our skills and steering clear of competing for physical strength with foreign opponents can we win good records in future new world Games. Xi said, Chinese athletes adapt to take part in sailboat and sailboard events, in which intellect capability is more necessary than physical strength. We had won women's sailboat title in Olympics and ranked fifth in men's sailboat in Sydney Olympics. Xi also said the Water Sports Center will weaken edge on heavy-level water events, stress on light-level events, and greatly push kayaking events especially kayaking slalom event, which raise no much great demand on athletes' physical strength. This is as shown by the kayaking slalom event which has been included in 2004 Athens Olympics. The Chinese athletes have made significant progress in the event and pocketed all golds in last Asian Tournament. By PD Online staff Huang Ying |
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