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China Aims at 30 Golds after Fine Start at Universiade
The hosts China set their eyes on 30 golds after getting off to a fine start at the 21st University Games in Beijing.
"Thirty golds would be possible," Li Furong, chef de mission of the Chinese Sports Delegation, told Xinhua on Saturday following a press conference.
China reaped nine golds, six silvers and two bronzes to top the medal standings after the second day of medal events.
Li denied the report that China had set themselves the objective of grabbing the No. 1 position from the United States but underlined their confidence to surpass the best gold record in history.
"I never said our objective was to win the first place on the table," Li said at the press conference. "But we will go all out for more than 20 golds."
China, who made their debut at the Universiade in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1977, finished third on the medals table with 20 golds, 17 silvers and 13 bronzes at the Sheffield Universiade in 1991.
"The Chinese athletes had a good start at the Games and we are satisfied with the results up till now," said Li, also deputy director of the States Sports General Administration Bureau. " Hopefully we could keep the momentum and achieve as good results as possible."
It is widely expected that the hosts could beat the United States, kings at the last five Universiades, to set up a new dynasty at the first University Games being held in China.
The Americans has been No. 1 at the University Games since 1991 when they collected 29 gold and 76 medals. Thereafter, they led with: 30 gold and 75 overall at Buffalo, the United States in 1993; 24 gold and 69 overall at Fukuoka, Japan in 1995; 20 gold and 62 overall in Sicily, Italy in 1997; and 30 gold and 62 overall at Palma, Spain, in 1999.
Li underlined China's determination of anti-doping and the efforts they made to keep the Chinese clean at the Games.
"We have very high regards for the anti-doping work," Li said. "We had training sessions for the medical workers, the team leaders and the coaches on anti-doping issues, we had the athletes educated as well."
"We have done everything possible to prevent the Chinese athletes from being involved in any doping problems," he added.
Li also welcomed the planning sports exchanges between the United States and China.
"We need their help in their strong sports like track and field, swimming," he said. "At the same time, it will be our pleasure to help them develop such sports as table tennis, diving, in which we are good at."
U.S. Olympic Committee President Sandra Baldwin told Associated Press on Friday that the United States and China would undertake an ambitious series of sports exchanges aimed at helping both countries in advance of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
"They were as enthusiastic as we were over organizing exchanges of competitions through 2008. We can get good experience for their athletes and ours," Baldwin was quoted by AP as saying.
"Not only will the programs benefit sports development of the United States and China, it will also be a good chance for the people of both countries to have a better understanding of each other and increase the friendship between them." Li said.
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