Gym coach Huang expects tougher challenge in 2008
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-25 09:12 Chinese gymnastic head coach
Huang Yubin shrugged off their eight gold triumph in the Arhus world
championships on Tuesday, expecting tougher challenge in the 2008 Olympic Games.
Chinese gymnastics head coach Huang
Yubin.[File Photo] | "Of course we are very happy
to see the result, especially after the Athens waterloo," he told Xinhua at the
airport, back from Arhus.
"But our ultimate goal is the Beijing Olympic Games. There is still two years
to go and many things could change as what we experienced over the Athens
Games," he said.
The Chinese squad collected a sole men's pommel horse gold medal in the 2004
Olympics, a heavy blow to domestic pre-game expectation and a team which won
five titles in the 2003 world championships in Anaheim.
Huang contributed the success to their correct understanding of the new
rules, which was first introduced into a world championships in Arhus.
"I think we enjoy the temporary leading position because we studied the new
judging system maybe earlier than the other teams and therefore understand it
better.
"But after the championships, they would learn more about the rules and train
better. I believe they would catch up soon." Huang said.
Injury-plagued Chinese team won eight out of 14 gold medals in Arhus,
including the first-ever women's team world title in the 53-year history of
Chinese gymnastics.
Chinese men defended their team honor without three key gymnasts- veteran
Huang Xu, double Olympic champion Li Xiaopeng and Athens Olympic champion Teng
Haibin were all absent due to injuries.
|
