China's chance to win first gold is 50-50

Videos
Photos

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-19 13:54

HARBIN - China's women speed skaters would hold a 50-50 chance of winning the first gold medal in dispute here on Thursday at the upcoming World Winter University Games, said a senior official of the sport's Chinese governing body.

"We field a strong squad to the long track speed skating events and have both Yu Jing and Ren Hui in the women's sprint, though the reigning Asian champion Wang Beixing has quit the universiade," said Xing Shuo, vice director of the Chinese Winter Sports Administrative Center's speed skating department.

"Since most of the speed skating teams in Europe and America have rested their senior athletes, South Korea will be the rivals posing most threat to us," he added. "I think the chance of China against South Korea are 50-50."

The women's 500 meters long track speed skating race will be the first event to produce a gold medal of the Winter Universiade on Thursday noon, and both the hosts China and neighboring South Korea have determined to start perfectly.

"South Korea's No. 1 woman skater Lee Sang Hwa is the current junior world record holder and finished fifth in the event three years ago in the Turin Winter Olympics. The Chinese athletes have to beat her to pocket the first gold," introduced Xing.

The teenage sensation Lee, who turns 20 years old next week, had declared earlier to head for an opening victory in Thursday's race.

"I know it (to produce the universiade's first gold) and I do want to win it. But what I have to do is just to let down my mind and to play my normal performance," she said.

"There's pressure on me, that's for sure. But I don't buy it," added Lee.

"Since Lee's 500m could be the first gold that our country win here, we are sure to make more effort on her preparations," said Lee Jae Sik, team leader of the South Korean speed skating squad.

Missing the undisputed leader of the discipline Wang Beijing in their squad, Xing put all the hosts' hope on Yu Jing and Ren Hui.

"Yu just took the title of the same event at the National Games, and finished with a bronze medal in the world short distance long track speed skating championships; Ren had a glory history in the universiade and won two golds and a silver in 2005. Both of them are hopeful to beat South Korea's Lee," said the official.

"Especially Yu had competed against Lee and knows her opponent well," he added.

The speed skating competitions of the 24th World Winter Universiade will start Thursday and through to February 26, with 14 gold medals up for grab.