China rules second World Cup with five gold medals

LUCERNE, Switzerland: China underlined its position as a favorite for Olympic rowing success with five gold medals at the second World Cup on Sunday while New Zealand and Britain enjoyed mixed results in the build up to Beijing.

Favorable draw lifts hopes for golden repeat

A favorable draw allowed China's women's volleyball team to avoid powerhouses like Brazil, Italy and Russia in the group stage, giving its chances of defending its Olympic title a boost.

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Star runner Sun disappointed by poor showing at Bird's Nest

For some, last week's test event at the Bird's Nest was only the start of an Olympic journey. But for China's long distance runner Sun Yingjie and most other athletes there, it was the last chance to perform in the iconic stadium.

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False starts all fun or cause for concern?

The two most memorable moments of star hurdler Liu Xiang's debut at the Bird's Nest last week had little to do with him crossing the finish line. They were his problems leaving the starting blocks.

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Korean coaches bring a magic touch

China has combed the globe in search of talented coaches who can assist in the country's scramble to finish atop the medal table at the Beijing Olympics.

Sichuan athletes darlings of Athletics Open in Beijing

Hurdler Liu Xiang may have been the main draw at last week's China Athletics Open at the Bird's Nest, but another group of athletes were the real darlings of the tournament.

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