NOVEMBER 12, 20 DAILY PAGE 16 TOP TALK A blast from the past tells his story THE NATION’S FIRST ASIAD GOLD MEDALIST TALKS ABOUT A DIFFERENT TIME IN CHINESE SPORT

hirty-six years ago, a 25-year-old Chinese pistol shooter named Su Zhibo signaled China’s Temergence on the international stage by picking up the country’s fi rst gold at the 1974 Teheran event. Now, hosts China’s second Asian Games, Su dusts off those old memories for China Daily. The history-maker won three gold medals and a bronze in Tehe- ran, but he received no prize money, only a certifi cate of merit. “People were really simple in those days, I never thought of a salary or getting prize money,” Su said, “I was just very hap- py that I didn’t disappoint my countrymen.” Su Zhibo Four years later, Su stood atop the podium twice at the Games, and was among the fi rst group of sports- men to receive the honorary badge of sports issued by the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY “I remembered I was awarded Su Zhibo won the men’s free pistol gold medal In Teheran to become China’s fi rst gold medalist at an Asiad. 300 yuan ($45) and I was very sat- isfi ed,” he said. ing into the stadium at the opening whose pistol stopped working the “Wang Yifu and I were selected page for Chinese sport by becom- In the 1970s, the training and ceremony, and pinned a national night before the shooting fi nal at to join the 1980 , ing the country’s fi rst Olympic gold competition conditions for Chi- emblem to our sportswear when the 1974 event. “Luckily, the coach but the schedule was cancelled medalist. nese athletes were vastly diff erent accepting a prize,” he said. worked on it all night, so I could join due to our country’s boycott of the “Maybe it was destiny,” said from today. He also said the shooters strug- the fi nal with a well-fi xed pistol.” Moscow Olympics,” Su said. Su, who retired as the national “Nowadays, athletes even have gled with their tools of the trade. Though Su notched five gold “When the 1984 shooting team’s manager in 2009. special-made podium-wear,” said “We had to repair the pistols medals at three Asian Games, he Olympics came, Xu Haifeng “I was dedicated to shooting for the 61-year-old. “I only got two from time to time in 1974, because missed out on the Olympic Games scored better than me, so I missed more than 40 years. I have no suits during those years. We wore those of small caliber were all twice, which remains a great disap- the event again.” regrets.” the Chinese tunic suit when walk- old ones made long ago,” said Su, pointment to him. In Los Angeles, Xu turned a new CHINA DAILY unfazed as China guns for revenge at the range

GUANGZHOU — India gets an in two years ago, sparking ed Narang did not win the David said Narang, who will carry expectations — most wanted him early chance to dent China’s mas- wild celebrations in his cricket- Dixon Award for the athlete of the India’s fl ag at Friday’s opening to retain the gold he won in sive reputation in Asian Games obsessed nation. Games, a feat achieved by compa- ceremony. in 2004 — hurt him. shooting when its two leading Narang, who was forced to triot Samaresh Jung in “The Chinese are always Zhu has an opportunity to avenge marksmen hit the ranges on Sat- watch close friend Bindra’ Olym- in 2006. strong in shooting, but this is the Beijing humiliation and also lift urday. pic triumph from the stands aft er The award went to Jamaican a sport where the competition the team gold medal in the event Olympic champion Abhinav being ousted from the finals on Trisha Smith for her gold medal in is within yourself, not the other with compatriots Cao Yifei and Bindra and compatriot Gagan countback, hit back with a ven- the women’s triple jump. guy.” Yu Jikang. Narang will battle their Chinese geance aft er Beijing. A confident Narang, 27, pre- The man who could ruin the Veteran Chinese coach Wang rivals in what could be an intrigu- Narang overshadowed Bindra dicted a good showing at the Indians’ quest for glory is former Yifu refused to predict a winner. ing tussle for gold in the men’s at the at Aoti ranges in Guangzhou, but Olympic champion Zhu Qinan, “We are all on the same start- 10m air rifle on the first day of home in last month remained wary of his Chinese who was reduced to tears at the ing line,” he said. “Th ere are good competition. with four gold medals, including competitors. press conference in Beijing after shooters taking part in the Asian Bindra, 28, returns to the coun- an easy win in the 10m air rifle “It will be a lot tougher to being denied gold by Bindra. Games. Th ey all have an opportu- try where he clinched India’s fi rst event. win here than it was during Zhu later said the pressure of nity to win.” and only individual Olympic title Many Indians were disappoint- the Commonwealth Games,” living up to his countrymen’s AGENCE FRANCEPRESSE