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China makes breakthrough at taekwondo worlds

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-05-22 20:23

"Less athletes and modest competitiveness gave Liu a chance to win the sole medal for China men's team. In this tournament, we had over 1,000 athletes and many contests were decided by one point or sudden-death round. It's more difficult to enter the last eight than to win a bronze medal ten years ago," Zhao said.

The 20-year-old Wu breezed through into the women's 47kg final in which she crushed Thailand's Yaowapa Boorapolchai 5-0 when the Thai coach called for withdrawal in the second round.

Wu proved the class of her own though this was only her world championship debut, and will be one of the best shots for gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Luo, who was suffering a leg injury sustained in last year's Asian Games, was confident to come back in the Beijing Olympics.

"I'll make full recovery of my leg injury and come all out for the Olympics in Beijing," Luo vowed after the women's 72kg semi-finals.

Chen completed a Grand Slam with the victory in the women's over 72kg finals as she had the Olympic and World Cup championships in pocket.

The WTF regulation limits two players in each gender for one country in the Games, with Wu and Chen having better chance for the spots in Beijing Olympics.

While Liu carries the burden for the first male taekwondo medal in the Games next year.

"Mali won first gold medal for Africa. European teams won the most titles in one world championships. These ring alarm to us," said Lu Xiudong, head coach of the Chinese women's team.

"The Europeans' success showed that attacking is premier in the development of taekwondo. The 2008 Beijing Olympics could be more difficult than ever. The world of taekwondo has changed since this tournament, and we must catch up with the step of the Europeans. Slow step is falling back," He added.