Veteran Zhang rides the blows on way to glory

Slides
Photos

By Tang Yue (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-04 11:31

Zhang Xiyan, the best known of China's female boxers, is stepping up her already high workrate in preparation for London 2012; despite the fact she may not be able to compete.

After winning three professional world titles, Zhang returned to amateur boxing early this year to qualify for the Olympic Games, a move which still needs to be ratified by the International Amateur Boxing Association.

Instead of being anxious about the final result, Zhang is totally devoted to everyday training.

"The only thing I can do now is to train very hard and to keep myself prepared," she said.

"I can't wait until the announcement; or it will be too late."

Though she will be 32 at the London Games, the veteran is full of belief in her ability.

"I feel like I'm only 20. I still enjoy training, I get excited at competition and I have rich experience."

As the captain and coach of the national team, Zhang is an icon for her substantially younger teammates.

In addition to excellent skills and strategy, her passion for the game impresses and galvanizes them.

"What Sister Xiyan (Zhang Xiyan) taught us is that your love for the game counts more than anything," Yin Junhua, a 19-year-old, said.

"Whenever I meet difficulty, I just think of her. She has overcome so much, how could I give up easily?"

Zhang was absent from the ring from 2000-02 as she had to earn money to pay doctors' bills for her paralyzed father.

"Those were the darkest days of my life mother was gone, father was ill. And I thought I would give up boxing forever," she said.

Zhang returned to boxing with the help of a new coach, Tian Dong, and achieved great success - including winning the gold medal in the 54kg class at 2002 World Championships.

But she was jolted again when news came through that the door to women's boxing at the 2008 Games in Beijing had been closed.

"A lot of my teammates just chose to retire after hearing that announcement but I just didn't want to give up," Zhang said.

"Boxing became all that I relied on after I lost my parents. It is my life."

She now looks at the 2012 Games as another turning point in her life; whether she can participate as an athlete or not.

"Of course, I want to win the gold, that's what I've been waiting so long for," she said.

"But if I can't play myself, I hope these young girls can realize the dream for me. I will try my best to help them.

"I just love it, love it. No matter how much I pay for it, I will have no regrets."