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Efforts promised for China's winter sports
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-28 06:07
"It should be my last Olympic Games," said Zhao, 32. "Although I failed to
reach the gold, I have tried my best."
Turin's Palavela ice rink also saw the last Olympic appearances for China's
short track speed skaters Yang (A) and Li Jiajun.
Li, the bronze medallist at the men's 1,500m, decided to say goodbye to his
20 years' skating career after competing in his fourth Olympic Games, while Yang
(A), who settled for a bronze at the women's 1,000m race, also declared her
retirement.
"This should be my last Olympic competition and I'm happy that our team has
welcomed the new leader Wang," said Yang (A) after the 1,000m race. "I love
short track skating, so all I did for it is worthwhile."
Yang (A) has also decided to donate her prize money from the bronze medal to
the "Right to Play" foundation. "Since I'm going to retire, I want to leave
something for sports," she said.
Veteran skater Wang Manli has not decided about her plans. A silver medal in
the women's 500m speed skating race left the 33-year-old in tears as she was
expected to take the gold on the basis of her consistently good performance in
the recent two seasons.
"I want a good rest now," Wang said after returning from Turin. "I will
decide whether to retire later."
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