Heavyweight choice for Chinese weightlifters

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By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-04 09:13

The struggles of Chinese weightlifters in retirement have regularly made the headlines in local media over the past few years.

However, Pan Yanhong, a former lifter with the Zhuhai team, Guangdong province, has a different story to tell - and it starts on the golf course.

"Life is very good for me right now," said Pan, a rising amateur golfer. "Our team has gained financial support and we have stable income every month. Sometimes there's also prizemoney if you have good results in competitions."

Now a member of the Guangdong Golf Channel team, Pan spends most of her time training and practising at her club and competing in about six tournaments each year.

Thanks to her experience lifting weights, Pan can nail a drive between 280-310 yards and won her first amateur trophy during the China Amateur Golf Futures Tour (GFT) event over the weekend.

"Golf is my life right now. I love it and enjoy playing and practising every day."

But Pan, now 26, admits she did not expect to have such a life three years ago, when she graduated from a sports academy in Zhuhai and was at a loss as to what to do like many other athletes.

"I have loved sports since childhood. So I told myself to find a job related to sport," said Pan. "But I had no idea where to go. I just thought I had spent 10 years lifting weights indoors and it was time to find something that was happening outside."

Pan found a job at a golf club but had few chances to swing the clubs.

"I was curious about the sport. Sometimes, we picked up a club and tried some drives after finishing work. We just had fun and never thought of playing seriously."

Benefit from weightlifting

But Pan, stocky and athletic from years of weightlifting, quickly showed her talent for the game and was able to out-drive her co-workers as well as some of the pro golfers who came to compete at the course.

"I think I benefited a lot from doing weightlifting for so many years. I have a much longer drive than other women. I also have better stamina. That's set a solid base for playing golf."

Pan was introduced by one of the best pro players, Wu Kangchun, to the national team coach in 2007 and started serious training.

Pan has been making impressive progress since then. She finished a surprising 11th at this year's China Amateur Tour event in Foshan, Guangdong province, her first competitive tournament.

Her rapid rise continued when she finished sixth in her first pro tour event, the China LPGA Beijing Championship, as an amateur qualifier. She then came in second in a China Amateur Tour event, also in Beijing.

"Golf is a totally different sport to weightlifting. You repeat the same move in weightlifting," said Pan. "But in golf you have different goals in every drive or putt."

Pan's encouraging performances saw her invited to join the Guangdong Golf Channel team, where she can now fully concentrate on the sport.

"It was difficult when I started playing because I had to cover all the expenses myself and my income at the golf club could not even get me to play one match."

Financial support and a huge confidence boost have motivated Pan to set her sights on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro .

"I was so excited when I heard golf had been included for the 2016 Games.

"I can put 100 percent into the sport and my first goal is to turn pro. I will never give up and look forward for the chance to compete at the 2016 Games for China."