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Chinese women biathletes invincible at Winter Asiad

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-02-01 15:15

JILIN, Northeast China - Chinese women biathletes seemed invincible at the ongoing sixth Asian Winter Games by sweeping all gold medals at the Beidahu ski resort, the venue of all snow sports of the Games.

Liu Xianying and Kong Yingchao finished the top two positions in the 15km individual race here on Thursday, splitting the gold and silver medals between themselves for the third time in a row at the Games.

China's Liu Xianying competes in the women's 15km biathlon individual at the 6th Winter Asian Games Feburary 1, 2007.

"Chinese women biathletes are strong in Asia, we must win here, " said German Klaus Siebert, head coach of the Chinese biathlon team.

China will make a clean sweep of the women's events if it takes the 4x6km relay on Friday.

"We are good enough to win, but we can not take anything for granted," Siebert said. "We have to fight for the gold."

Chinese women biathletes have done a good job at international stage this season, but they have to work very hard to enhance their hope for a medal at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, according to Siebert.

"This season, our athletes were good at shooting most of the time, and their running is OK," Siebert said. "but we have to improve stability, because shooting is so important in biathlon."

"And I also think our athletes should focus on biathlon. Some of our athletes are doing both biathlon and cross-country, but biathlon is a very difficult sport, it will be too difficult to do another sport at the same time," Siebert added.

"At the Asian Winter Games, it's OK. But at the international stage, our athletes have to focus on one sport."

Following a victory in the 7.5 kilometers sprint event on Monday, Liu pocketed her second personal title Thursday morning at the Beidahu skiing resort, clocking on 56 minutes and 27.6 seconds, 1:06.9 ahead of Kong, winner of the 10km pursuit.

Liu embraced Siebert and her husband Du Bo after crossing the finish line.

"I am very happy to win my second gold of the Games," said Liu. "I have to thank our coach, he made a good plan for me before the race and I did what he told me to do."

"My running was good, and my shooting was OK," Liu added.

Liu had two misses in 20 tries in the shooting range.

Inna Mozhevitina of Kazakhstan took home the bronze in one hour and 8.6 seconds.