6 olympics THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012 CHINA DAILY The time is now for Zhao Young stars

By CHEN XIANGFENG make plunge in London chenxiangfeng@ chinadaily.com.cn for glory In a lot of ways, China’s wom- en’s basketball team just wants to be left alone. By XINHUA in Beijing and was invited to join the With a roster chock-full of center under the encourage- players who are either a little too In a diving center in Jinan, ment policy of the local gov- young or a little too old, they’d Shandong province, children ernment. like to fl y under the radar and aged 5 and 6 are doing their According to Zhou, main- avoid comparisons to the team routine boardwork on a tram- taining a disciplined training that took fourth place at the Bei- poline, all of which refl ect the regimen is the key to success. jing Games. basic movements of diving. In order to achieve perfect Twenty-two- While their peers are only diving, which creates little or year-old Zhao about to enter primary school, no splash, a 10-meter plat- Shuang might ruin they have already started pur- form diver climbs the stairs that plan. suing a dream — to one day more than 190km every year The media in London are compete in the Olympics. — that is almost 20 times the already calling Zhao one of Six-year-old Zhang Xinyue height of Mount Qomolang- the most beautiful athletes in has been practicing diving for ma (also known as Mount the Chinese contingent. She’s almost three years. She hopes Everest). also caught the attention of the that one day she will represent During the past two years, sport’s governing body, FIBA, China in the Olympic Games. his students have won two which featured her in a story “I’ve seen Guo Jingjing gold medals and one silver in about budding stars. on TV. She did so well, and top competitions in China. Slim and shapely at 1.84m it inspired me to want to be Zhou says those results have tall, her eye-catching photos on a world champion someday, greatly encouraged the chil- the Internet have put her in the just like her,” she said. dren and their parents. company of popular female ath- Qualifying for the Olympics The center currently has letes like Maria Sharapova. is a huge challenge. For diving, more than 60 students, all Zhao said she’s been surprised most children start practicing aged from 5 to 16. at the attention after scoring as early as three years of age, In addition to the tough 2 points with one assist in fi ve and they go through a vari- training, teenage divers face minutes in her Olympic debut ety of early training, such as another challenge — weight against Croatia on Monday. breaststroke and how to hold control. “Are you sure you want to their breath. Xing Yiying, 14, has a host interview me? I only had 2 Zhang Xinyue, Zhang of national and international points,” she smiled. “I appreciate Leyan, Cao Shuier and sev- awards to her name. Yet keep- it that so many people support eral other children are the ing fi t has been a major task me and cheer for me.” new recruits this year. They for her. The name “Shuang” means showed great potential in Xing had just had lunch frank and straightforward in swimming as kindergarten during our visit. She had eggs Chinese, leading to the nick- students and, because of their with tomato and broccoli, and name Shuang Mei Zi (little sister outstanding physical condi- some tofu. Shuang). tion, they were selected to join “I have to control my She lives up to it on the court. the diving training team. weight or I will not be able to Zhao takes pride in her Th e training is long-term, fl ip,” she said. defense and found herself in the tedious and extremely high Th e girl admits she always thick of the action on both sides pressure. Th e children’s initial feels hungry, even after she of the floor as China won its curiosity and enthusiasm is has just eaten. However, in third straight game on Wednes- quickly supplanted by pain order to keep fi t and improve day against Angola. from strict professional train- her performance, she has to Three rabid Chinese fans ing. Despite being about 10 maintain a strict diet. To fend have attracted attention stand- years old, they have callused off hunger, she drinks water ing together with the words hands and their eyes and ears constantly. “Shuang Mei Zi” on their reveal the damage suffered As the children grow older, T-shirts at her games. from the frequent impact of coaches not only need to focus “I am eager to play — I didn’t diving practice. on their physical movements want to miss any game,” said “Sometimes my nose and but, more importantly, they Zhao, who didn’t play during ears hurt when I have to hold must pay attention to their the team’s opener against the my breath,” said Zhang Leyan, mental state. Czech Republic, which China “My eyes get irritated under “I must improve myself as won 66-57 on Sunday. water.” well, especially to gain more Zhao was given 13 minutes Eye damage is the most psychological knowledge against Angola, in which she common health malaise in about teenagers,” said Zhou. had 7 points and three assists diving. Olympic champions “I should know what they are as China advanced to the quar- MARK RALSTON / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE such as Guo Jingjing, Hu Jia, thinking and what they are terfi nals. Angolan forward Felizarda Jorge (right) vies with Chinese guard Zhao Shuang during their Group A match at the London Olympics on and Xiao Hailiang all have interested in.” “I like the young players’ Wednesday. China won, 76-52, to improve to 3-0 and secure a spot in the top eight. suff ered from eye problems, Each of the young divers attitudes, although they’re still which have led to poor eye- has spent their precious child- struggling to fi nd their rhythm points and six rebounds during Zhao and her teammates won should not put too much pres- to the WNBA eventually, she’ll sight. Guo had an operation hoods diving — doing the at times,” said coach Sun Feng- the 2010-11 season. the title and claimed Asia’s only sure on them. have to push herself. Some of on her retina in late 2001. same workout day aft er day. wu. “Zhao is energetic and has Sun was impressed, awarding ticket to the Olympic Games. “Just let them play their game the league’s scouts did take Although the intense train- But only the top performers great potential.” her a spot on the national team’s “Sometimes, young players and learn from their mistakes. notice of her last year. ing can be physically and will see their dreams realized training camp in April. have a hard time fi nding them- Th e Olympics are the best place Former center Zheng Haixia, mentally grueling, the chil- by qualifying for the national Rapid emergence She seized the opportunity, selves on the court,” Sun said. to push them to mature as play- Sui Feifei and two members of dren seldom complain. team. Zhou says it is his job to Zhao was mostly unknown playing a number of big games “So I ask them to calm down ers.” the current team — Miao Lijie Th ey attend literacy classes tap their potential. until she led her Shenyang in international tournaments and give them more minutes, Zhao knows a pretty face isn’t and Chen Nan — all made it to in the morning and exercise “My ultimate goal is to help Army team to the national before starting every game in game aft er game. Th is is their going to get her anywhere on the WNBA. in the aft ernoon. Aft er warm- them participate in events championship, averaging 11.1 last year’s Asian Championship. first Olympic Games. We the court. If she wants to make it Zhao might be next. ing up, they start diving. from the lowest level to the Although repetitive and bor- highest, step by step, and then ing, it’s the fi rst step toward make their championship their monumental dreams. dreams come true,” he said. To reduce the training’s As for the young divers, monotony, coaches some- the dream of the Olympics is Olympic style a perfect fi t for US women times play music. extremely alluring. In front of “They have to jump more the camera, they smile inno- By DOUG FEINBERG “Playing over there and being “She’s defi nitely been a great nine days ago before the US. wins over Angola and the Czech than 100 times every day,” cently. in London used to the style of play and also change-up,’’ Auriemma said. pulled away to a 19-point victory. Republic and feel they have a said Zhou Yilin, who has “We have to win the cham- Associated Press knowing the personnel because “Lindsay is much more direct, “I’ve always thought that you chance to beat the US. been coaching at the center pionship, everyone wants to they are on the same team, more physical than Sue. Th ere’s can’t judge what happens in any “Being that we were in the since 2010. He was the win- be No 1, so we have to deal The US women’s Olympic I think that’s a huge help,’’ US bodies fl ying when she’s in the of the exhibition games leading game with them with 3 quar- ner of three gold medals at with the hardships,” one of the team has an edge over its male coach Geno Auriemma said. game. The tempo gets a little up to the Olympics as to wheth- ters our confi dence is up,’’ said the FINA Diving World Cup youngsters said. counterparts when it comes to “Th ey also can help me at times quicker when she’s in the game.’’ er or not that’s the team you’re center Quanitra Hollingsworth, international basketball: The know what might work well.’’ Whalen has spent the past going to play,’’ Auriemma said. who was born in the US and style of play is second nature The American players go few years playing in the Czech “We’re going to play a really starred at VCU before becom- to them. overseas to earn money in the Republic and was excited for good team — a team that’s got ing naturalized to play for Tur- Th at means the women don’t winter since the top salaries in the change. Her new team held some size, they shoot the ball key in May. “We know that if we have to make major adjustments. the WNBA barely reach six fi g- a press conference for her when exceptionally well, they’ve got come ready to play and focus “The European ures. In Russia or Turkey, they the US was training in Istanbul. tremendous experience. we can give them a run for their game is different, can earn up to a $1 million. “A lot of these girls will be “I’ve been incredibly money.’’ we all know that,’’ Tamika Catchings spent a few my teammates next year or impressed with them since last Th e one thing that the Turks said US guard seasons with the Turkish club my opponents,’’ Whalen said. year’s European championships. won’t have in London is the Diana Taurasi, Galatasaray and it took her a “That’s the way international I know we’ll play a somewhat huge home crowd that backed who has played in both Tur- little while to adjust to the diff er- basketball is. You get to play diff erent team than we played them in the exhibition game. key and Russia. “Th e best thing ent style of play. Now the extra with girls one day and the next in Istanbul. I know we’ll have to Still Auriemma doesn’t think about it is that we’ve all played contact that’s allowed interna- you’re playing against them. play a lot better than we played that will make too much of a probably more European bas- tionally is just part of her game. Having the familiarity helps as in Istanbul.’’ diff erence. ketball than WNBA basketball. “Th ey are a lot more physical you know what they can do.’’ Th e Americans (2-0) could be “Home fans wherever we play So we’re all really familiar with and let you get away with a lot The Turks have looked playing without Sylvia Fowles other than their home team, it, the way it’s reffed, the way more,’’ she said. “Some of the fouls impressive in their fi rst Olympic against Turkey. She didn’t play their next favorite team is who- they call things, the way you they call in the US aren’t going to appearance and aren’t intimi- in the team’s 52-point win over ever is playing the US,’’ he said. have to adjust during the game. be close to being fouls overseas.’’ dated by the top-ranked team Angola on Monday night, rest- “Th e atmosphere here has been “For us, it’s pretty easy.’’ Lindsay Whalen will be the in the world. ing a sore left foot. Fowles took great.’’ It was against Croatia and latest American Olympian to Th e US has won its fi rst two it easy in practice on Tuesday. After facing Turkey, the Angola. They expect a stiffer join a Turkish team next year contests by an average of 38.5 “We’ll see how it feels tomor- Americans — who have won 35 challenge from Turkey. when she plays for Galatasaray. points and is coming off a row morning,’’ she said. “If I straight Olympic contests and Taurasi and fi ve of her Olym- She’s been able to impact games 52-point win over Angola. Tur- can go I’ll go, if I can’t I won’t. four consecutive gold medals — pic teammates have played in for the US women’s team serv- key, however, hung with the We’re not going to rush it and still have contests against China Istanbul so they are very famil- ing as the backup point guard Americans for three quarters of be smart.’’ and the Czech Republic in the iar with the Turkish players. to Sue Bird. an exhibition game in Istanbul Th e Turks played well in their preliminary round.