China

China's roller skaters preparing for Asian Games

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-26 09:42
Large Medium Small

HEFEI, China - Roller skating event will be a competition event in 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games for the first time.

As a national major event before the Asian Games, the fourth All-China Games is a warm-up for China's roller skating athletes.

Huang Qiang, an officer in Society Sports Guiding Center of National Sports Administrative, is in charge of the program. He said it is the first time that China's roller skating athletes will be aiming to get the gold medal in Asian Games, and they are most hopeful to get champion in figure roller skating event.

Huang Qiang introduced that China national team's speed roller skating and figure roller skating are both strong, but there is fierce competition in speed roller skating. It is much easier for China to get champions in figure roller skating, and China has got advantages in 1990s. "In Asian Games in Guangzhou, we are going to get at least one gold medal in figure roller skating event," said Huang Qiang.

The Shanghai team is the strongest one in China and it's the only team which has professional players. In All-China Games, the Shanghai team won all four champions of figure roller skating. The manager assistant of the Shanghai team, Huang Haiqiang said that most players of the China national figure roller skating team were chosen from the Shanghai team.

"We're confident about Asian Games, although Chinese Taipei and Japan are very strong in this event, but China still has chances to get gold medals. It's a good opportunity for China in Asian Games," said Huang.

According to Huang, after roller skating becomes a competition event of Asian Games, China is looking for young players in some domestic games, and is training them for Asian Games.

In All-China Games, the audiences have already seen the strength of China for the gold medals.