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Chinese Sports Delegation for EA Games Left for Osaka
Chinese sports delegation of 82 persons left Beijing on May 16 to attend the 3rd East Asian Games held in Japan's Osaka this weekend. Among the delegation were basketball, bowling, hockey players and other missionaries. Meanwhile, Chinese Women's Volleyball Team departed from Shanghai and Chinese Men's Handball Team and Gym Team had already been there for a warm-up exercise.
Having topped the rank of gold medals in consecutive two years, could China still retain it this time?
Yang Shuan, deputy leader and secretary-general of the delegation told the reporters in an interview that China was not as strong as expected, "to keep the No. 1 in terms of total gold medals is not an easy job, and probably, it will fall down".
For, almost all teams have undergone a replacement of veterans by fresh blood, said Yang. Out of some 300 participators for the EA Games, only 76 have experienced in Sydney Olympics. Except for gym and diving, China is almost on a par with other countries in the rest couple of events.
In the meantime, the competition with Japan will be considerably intensive. For, Osaka is also a candidate city for the 2008 Olympic Games. As the host country of EA Games, Japan undoubtedly will make best of this chance to offer a good performance. In addition, its level in field events and swim has both witnessed rapid progress, even nip and tuck with China. The former stance of a triad of Asian sports powers - China, Japan and the ROK, will probably see a little difference, esp. with the joining of Australia in the EA Games for the first time.
In a word, the EA Games is actually a practice before a real combat, i.e. to target at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
By PD Online staff member Yin Zhili
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