6 olympics TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2012 CHINA DAILY Chen bows out silver effort By IAN RANSOM in London Reuters China’s gymnastics captain Chen Yibing kissed his silver medal and beamed at the crowd but admitted to feeling short-changed by the judges when he was pipped by Brazil’s Arthur Zanetti for the rings gold in his fi nal Olympic Games on Monday. The 27-year-old Chen, a three-time Olympic champion dubbed the “King of Rings” by adoring Chinese fans, appeared to have the title sewn up aft er a strong per- formance and a solid landing. He was stunned, however, when the Bra- zilian, the last competitor to take the rings, scored 15.900 to pip him by 0.1 of a point, despite taking a step back on his landing. “It’s still good, it’s a silver medal,” the ami- able Chen said with a laugh. “I was a little bit surprised ... Seeing him not stand (perfectly) on the landing, I thought I would have beaten him. But when the score came out he was the winner. But I still have to congratulate him. I really did bring my best today.” Chen kissed the red frame of the appara- tus aft er his routine and waved the “num- ber one” fi nger at television cameras, but walked out of the arena as runner-up for a prolonged interrogation by a large throng of Chinese reporters. He promptly announced his retirement. “I decided before these Olympics because my body has a few injuries and there’s a lot of new talents coming through,” he said. Chen, who had already taken a men’s team gold here last week, injured his knee training in Northern Ireland two weeks before the Games. CUI MENG / CHINA DAILY State media quoted his team as saying it was a China’s gymnast Chen Yibing celebrates after fi nishing his routine in the men’s rings fi nal at the London Olympic Games on Monday at the North Greenwich Arena. Brazil’s Arthur Nabarrete “minor” injury but Chen said he had carried Zanetti won gold, while Chen, the defending champion, took the silver. Italy’s Matteo Morandi got bronze. the painful injury into the competition. Hurdles: Liu Xiang QUOTE ME ON THAT I’m a fan of Liu Xiang! “Honestly, I think it faces a tough fi eld I hope he can have an will be quite diffi cult ordinary heart this for him to win the FROM PAGE 1 said. “The sport has produced time and try to win 110m hurdles gold a golden generation, a group of Liu has good reason to take the best hurdlers competing at the gold medal. It’s a medal. But, whenever it easy, as he already has all the the same time. To make it more surprise to know the the 110m hurdles fi nal major titles under his belt. spectacular, this is likely to be the 110m hurdles fi nal is takes place, every Even the Olympic record of last Olympics for Liu and also for 12.91 was set by Liu — the sec- (Dayron) Robles and some of the taking place on Aug 8. Chinese will support ond fastest man in the world best American hurlers.” Maybe it’ll bring good him and hope for him this year aft er American Aries luck to him. to win. He will still be Merritt — when he won gold at Tough fi eld HE XUA, the Athens Games. It is indeed a strong group. Beijing citizen a national hero and The previously injured foot Two of the toughest will be “It was an abso- cultural icon regard- could be a concern once the Merritt and Robles. less of the result. By race begins. Th is year’s fastest man, Mer- lutely unexpected and Liu qualifi ed for the fi nal at ritt, has said he can run faster shocking scene for returning from injury the London Grand Prix last in London, possibly even at a me in 2008. Looking and becoming one of month, his last race before the world record pace. Games, but withdrew with a Having clocked 12.93 sec in at the distinct and spe- the best athletes in the muscle pain in his rib aft er the June at the US Olympic Trials to cial number ‘1356’ on Olympics again, he semifi nals. Aft er the race, Liu qualify for the Games and rise to has already succeeded. fl ew to Germany to avoid Lon- the top spot in the world rank- his back at that time, ZHAO BICHENG, a student don’s weather ings, Merritt equaled that time on personally, I interpret- at the University College It’s a diff erent injury than the July 13 on a soggy Crystal Palace ed it as a combination London Achilles injury that forced him track at the London Grand Prix out of the Beijing Games, but and again at the Herculis Monaco of China’s 1.3 billion “I always have confi - it was enough to raise some meet on July 20. people and 56 dif- dence in Liu Xiang. concerns. “This meet gives me con- ferent ethnic groups. Aft er arriving in London on fidence going into the Games He is much more Friday, Sun said the rib muscle because I know that I’m able to You can imagine the pressure-resistant was no longer a problem, but run in any conditions: rain, cold. pressure and burden than normal people. It admitted Liu’s foot gave him I can run in it and I can run fast,” he was shouldering. trouble in Germany. Merritt said at that time. LI GANG / XINHUA would be a good thing “During the tune-up in Ger- Th e 2012 indoor world cham- Liu Xiang arrvies at Heathrow Airport in London on Friday. As for this year, I just for him to regain his many, we simulated the Olympics’ pion in the 60m hurdles and wanted him to do his three-round format and found 2005 world junior champion just have to stay consistent and New York with another injury, and the fastest in the world in the glory, but it’s also he felt a bit uncomfortable in his now wants to run even faster. keep tracking.” this time to his lead leg. event,” Antunez said last month. best, instead of de- acceptable if he can’t. injured foot. It’s more intense at “Hopefully, I can shave off Reigning champion Robles, So the form of the 25-year-old, “If he loses in London in what manding and expect- You’ll never know the Olympics than other events 0.05, maybe a world record, who set the world record of who will be bidding to become is a really tough competition, it ing a gold medal from this season, where he just had to who knows? You’re never going 12.87 in June 2008, two months the first man since American will be because of a problem that what he is suff ering if run once,” Sun said. “But we used to know when you run a world before he won gold at the Bei- great Roger Kingdom in 1984 occurs on the day.” him. you are not an athlete. RICHARD SUN, student at ice and other physical therapy. It record because competition and jing Games, has not had an ideal and 1988 to successfully defend Robles faced Liu on the track MENG JIE, student at the the National Junior College went very well, and Liu is now at conditions play a huge factor. preparation for the defense of his title in the event, will not be once this year, in an indoor Central University of Finance of Singapore his best form.” “But we already know the his title. seen until the fi rst heat. meeting in Birmingham in Feb- and Economics, Beijing Sun said Liu’s return makes competition is there with world He had to skip the world Coach Santiago Antunez is ruary, over the shorter distance the event one of the most antici- champion Jason (Richardson indoors because of a lower back confident he will defend his of 60m. Liu won. pated of the Olympic schedule. of the US), Liu Xiang and Day- injury, then missed two presti- title successfully, even against a “This will be a showdown to ron Robles. So you never know gious American outdoor meet- resurgent Liu. Contact the writer at chenxiang- watch in the 110m hurdles,” he when a record will happen. You ings in Eugene, Oregon, and “He is the Olympic champion, [email protected]. Silver’s OK, but gold sure would be better By WU YING and TANG ZHE hugged him and invited him to “Th ree Olympic Games in 12 China’s men’s team, said he was the coaches,” he said. “Th e loss hold the national fl ag together years. It hasn’t been easy for me,” proud of Wang, whose dedica- won’t infl uence my spirit. I will Wang Hao has plenty of silver in front of the camera aft er the Wang said at the post-match tion helped the country remain spare no eff ort to do better and medals, thank you very much. match. press conference, admitting the dominant. win the team competition with Th e Chinese table tennis play- For Wang, an Olympic gold ups and downs have tested his “Wang Hao didn’t win the my teammates.” er, who last week made it three medal would be the last piece perseverance.