 The warrior
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-12 08:55 Whitewater warrior Robin Bell is banking on his "final's specialist" traits to bag an historic Olympic canoeing medal in the C1 slalom.
Bell, 30, the world No 3, qualified seventh for the 12-man semi-final at the Shunyi Slalom Stadium after two solid runs in the heats on a fast course. "Coming seventh, I know I have to pick my game up but that's all right," says Bell. He will be up against Slovakian Michal Martikan who threw down the gauntlet to the field, qualifying in first place in 170.15 seconds, 0.35 ahead of German dark horse Jan Benzien. The 12 semi-finalists start with a clean slate today and the leading eight after the first run go through to the final, with points carrying over. (China Daily 08/12/2008 page19) |
