Ü9]abaf_ÜFdqeha[ÜJYadaf_ÜI]_YllY 9]abaf_ Fdqeeha[ÜJYadaf__ÜI]_YllY 20 SATURDAY AUGUST 16, 2008 China progressing, but still has a way to go Olympic sailing competition a good ing the sport in the late 1970s. rainy days and windless days,” to March, Chinese sailors train level and knowledge of sailing caught by third-placed Swede But it is growing stronger with said Yao. “Our sailors must in foreign countries. theories, rules and culture," Daniel Birgmark. chance for locals to learn and catch up nearly 20 provinces and cities learn from the world’s top com- Laser Radial sailor Xu has said Yao. Only eight of the 10-race now encouraging the sport. petitors in dealing with these improved remarkably by After yesterday’s races, opening series were completed China’s sailing team ranks in diffi cult conditions. learning from her Western Britain’s Ben Ainslie is set to in both Finn and Yngling be- By Zhang Xiaomin “Our sailors have made great the top three in Asia. “Compared with their West- counterparts in international retain his Olympic Finn title or cause of postponements due progress in the past several The team has won fi ve World ern rivals, our athletes are in an competitions. Now she ranks at least win silver after extend- to light winds. Rules stipulate years, though they are still not Champions in sailboard since inferior position in psychologi- second in the ISAF rating. ing his lead over American Zach six must be completed before a QINGDAO: After seven days of comparable to Western competi- 1990. Chinese windsurfers cal quality, physical strength, The team also hired well- Railey. medal race. Olympic competition in Qing- tors," said Yao Xinpei, deputy won silver medals in the 1992 skill, tactics and the ability established coaches from the Racing began nearly four The British and Dutch Yn- dao, the Chinese sailors are captain of the Chinese team. and 2004 Olympics. What the to deal with complicated cli- United States and Sweden. hours later than scheduled gling trios are also certain of still in contention for medal Yao said it is a good op- team desires most now is a mates," said Wang Yong, coach “For example, the Yngling yesterday because of what of- winning a medal in Today’s fi nishes in four categories, but portunity for Chinese sailors gold medal. of the Chinese Yngling team. and the Laser Radial women fi cials said were light and un- showdown events. have lagged far behind in other in all the events to compete Despite the advantages as During the years of prepara- have made obvious progress stable winds and forecasts of The Yngling is set for a thrill- classes. with the world’s best and learn the host team, the Chinese face tion for the Olympic Games, with instructions from foreign bad weather. Thursday’s entire ing fi nale with Britain’s Sarah At the conclusion of yester- from them while in their home challenges, including trying to Chinese sailors grew up thanks coaches,” Yao said. program was postponed. Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa day’s races, China’s Yin Jian waters. maintain physical strength, to competing with world-class “There is a lot we need to Ainslie, bidding for a third Wilson holding a one-point lead led the RS:X Women class, RS: As the host country, China avoiding illness and injury, sailors at international regat- learn from the world’s top successive Olympic gold after over Mandy Mulder, Annemieke X Men sailor Wang Aichen took has qualifi ed to send 18 sailors and adapting to the changing tas. sailors. In the future, we will winning the Laser in Sydney Bes and Merel Witteveen of the sixth place, and Xu Lijia in Laser to compete in all of the 11 Olym- weather in Qingdao. According to Yao, the nation- continue to participate in more in 2000 and Finn in Athens Netherlands. Radial and the Yngling trio Song pic sailing events. “The sailors must have the al team participated in about 10 international regattas and in 2004, holds a 12-point lead Xiaqun, Yu Yanli and Li Xiaoni Yao noted that China is a late- ability to cope with various international regattas from last invite foreign coaches in order over Railey heading into today’s Agencies contributed fi nished seventh. comer in the event, only start- diffi culties like fog, continual March to July. From November to strengthen our technical medal race and cannot be to the story Panayiotis Kontides (right), an offi cial of Cyprus national sail- ing team, and Pavlos Kontides, a sailor of the team, are also father and son. Du Shu Father, son team up for Cyprus By Du Shu but Pavlos takes it in stride. “The wind infl uences the sport so much. It is the same for every- QINGDAO: One is a team offi - body. So we have to deal with it cial and the other is an Olympic and adapt to it,” Pavlos said. sailor, both from Cyprus. As the president of the They are Panayiotis Kontides Cyprus Yachting Association, and Pavlos Kontides, the father Panayiotis wants to make sail- and the son. ing more popular in the island Their impression of the city nation. agrees with other favorable “It is the fi rst time Cyprus is comments participat- by racing ing in four teams, There is no pressure on different except Pan- him. He is very young. classes. ayiotis was We already not happy It is already a great have a good with a rainy achievement that he result, now day. we are hop- Catching up Yet with is participating in the ing for some Luo Youjia/Chen Xiuke of China (left) and Oskar Johansson/Kevin Stittle of Canada compete in the Tornado class during the Beijing Olympic sailing competition in his father Games at the age of 18. surprising Qingdao yesterday. China fi nished in ninth place after one race. Ju Chuanjiang beside him, He will do his best. results,” he Pavlos has said. a sunny PANAYIOTIS Cyprus outlook. Cyprus sailing team offi cial has never “I con- won an sider him Olympic Leader Tunnicliffe on course for Laser Radial gold lucky. Whenever he is with medal. Its chances were hurt me, especially in sailing, I get when tennis player and medal By Zhao Ruixue tional Regatta, a pre-Olympic ghy in which the young people onships in the 800m and set a sic, especially the classical amazing results,” he said. hope Marcos Baghdatis, a test event. She is currently across the world learn to sail. new high-school record. genre. At school she minored Pavlos expects to be in the top 2006 Australian Open fi nalist, ranked No 1 in her class in Sailing has since been a When time came to decide in music. “Music has been 10 in his fi rst Olympics, but his missed the Games due to a wrist QINGDAO: Although a debutant the world rankings compiled good way for her to get close to which one she should choose, a major part of my life. To father doesn’t want to push him. injury. at the Beijing Olympic Games, by the International Sailing nature and meet challenges. Tunnicliffe was determined to learn music takes the same “There is no pressure on him. On the sea at Qingdao, Pavlos Anna Tunnicliffe of the United Federation (ISAF). “Sailing for me is a way to make a splash in sailing. dedication it does to be a top- He is very young,” Panayiotis now ranks 10th after 4 races. States has a strong chance to In addition to keeping high be free. I enjoy being on the “I have had a dream of com- level athlete. Without music, said. “It is already a great Of the 17-member Cyprus take gold in the women’s one- spirits, hard training con- water every day and facing the peting in Olympic sailing since I doubt I would be the person achievement that he is partici- Olympic delegation, world person Laser Radial class. tributes to Tunnicliffe’s good challenges.” I was 12 years old, so when the I am today." pating in the Games at the age champion skeet shooter George After four races, she ranks results. Even in her spare time, she time came to decide if I was After the Olympics, Tunni- of 18. He will do his best.” Achilleos is now its best hope fi rst in the overall standings. “I have tried to train a lot in seeks reward from challenges. going to pursue running or cliffe plans more sailing after Pavlos has respectable cre- for a medal. Though this is her fi rst time similar conditions to Qingdao. “When I get some time sailing, I chose sailing. a short break. dentials — he won the Volvo at the Olympics, the 26-year- I dropped weight at the begin- alone, I enjoy working out and “I still run a lot of races “I will do some different types Youth World Championship This special supplement is old is already a veteran with ning of the season so that I running.” because for me it’s the same of sailing, including match rac- two times. “This is something co-published by the Infor- 17 years of sailing experience would be comfortable at this She is not only a star in sail- kind of competitive attitude ing and a World Championships that nobody did before in Laser mation Offi ce of Qingdao and accomplishments. weight in all wind conditions.” ing, but one in running races. and it’s great,” Tunnicliffe and then I’ll slowly get back into class,” the father said.