Former stars help popularize sport

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By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-04 08:56

Former Chinese star athletes have joined the rising generation of golf players to help draw attention to the sport.

Among the household names competing at the China Amateur Golf Futures Tour (GFT) event in Beijing over the weekend were former badminton world champion Ye Zhaoying and gymnastics great Li Xiaoshuang.

Ye, the 35-year-old Zhejiang native and world champion in 1995 and 1997, has shown impressive progress since she picked up the clubs six years ago.

She trains with Kel Llewellyn, the coach of Liang Wenchong, China's top male golfer, and is determined to be a leading amateur player.

"For me, golf is easier than badminton," said the bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. "Badminton is a very tiring sport and physically demanding. You always have to be thinking about beating your rivals. Golf is just a walk and in competitions I don't have to worry about others."

The former world No 1 was also pleased to see golf included in the 2016 Olympic Games and believes the number of people playing the sport will increase dramatically in the coming years.

"Definitely more and more Chinese will choose to play the sport. Playing in the Olympic Games is a dream for everyone who is involved in sport."

Ye also said more retired athletes were likely to take up the game.

"An Olympic sport has a different temptation to athletes. I think more retired athletes like me will choose to play golf.

"We might not be able to achieve good results compared to the pro athletes but we hope by playing we can help spread the sport throughout China."

An entertainer in golf

Gymnastics world and Olympic champion Li has been playing golf for 13 years but sees himself as an "entertainer" rather than a "professional".

"I'm not a pro golfer and I'm also not going to become a pro," said Li, 36. "I hope I can give some fun to the fans on the course and get more people to love the sport."

Li, a champion at the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympic Games, has a natural gift for the sport. He averages 260 yards off the tee and sometimes outplays the pros.

"I participate in golf because it is a real sport," said Li, who is also the boss of a sponsor of the GFT. "Lots of people in China see golf as a game for wealthy people.

"They are wrong. I hope the media will play a more important role in telling people that golf is a sport for everyone.

"Golf's inclusion at the 2016 Games proves it is for everyone in the world."

Li is also confident Chinese players will be among the world's best within the next decade.

"Chinese people have shown talent in individual sports like badminton, table tennis, shooting and gymnastics.

"Once golf is made a priority by the government and also gains public support, I believe, after 10 years, Chinese golfers will make it into the four major tournaments."