Asian Speed Skating Competition to Be Held in HarbinAsian Regional Qualifying Competition for the 2001 World Speed Skating Championships and Asian Speed Skating Competition will open in Harbin, Capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Saturday with 67 skaters from five countries competing at the highest-level event in Asia.Twentyone Chinese skaters including Song Li, a promising star in the women's 1500-meter and all-round events, will compete at the two-day tournament. "China has sent its best skaters this time and they will go all out to obtain good results." said Zhu Chengyi, deputy director of the National Winter Sport Management Center under the Chinese Sports General Administration. "But skaters from Japan and South Korea are very competitive and they are our main rivals." Zhu added. Skaters from Japan were expected to dominate the competitions, though first-class Japanese racers will not participate in the competitions. Top five finishers in the men's and women's all-round events will qualify for the 2001 World Speed Skating Championships. |
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