| Veterans were proven the most competitive in the Wushu event, as three time world champion Cao Jing and defending champion Zhao Qingjian took the golds at China's 11th National Games Monday.
The 27-year-old Cao seized the women's changquan gold. She had been crowned in the event in the World Wushu Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007. However, she missed the gold in the 10th National Games four years ago.
Born in the co-host city, Binzhou, in eastern Shandong Province, Cao said she had a lot of pressure performing in front of hometown crowds, but she played her best.
"I have proved that age is not a constraint for women players in Wushu," she told reporters at the post-match press conference.
Beijing player Liu Xiaolei came up the second with 9.81 points, 0.02 points lower than Cao, and Ma Lan from central Henan Province finished third with 9.80 points.
Wushu, the only non-Olympic event at the National Games, comprises Taolu, or form, and Sanshou, or sparring. The Taolu, including changquan, taijiquan and taijijian, has 12 gold medals on offer.
In the men's changquan, Zhao Qinjian from Beijing retained his national title with 9.82 points, edging the second, Yuan Xiaochao from Shanxi Province, by only 0.01 point. Host province competitor Sun Peiyuan got the third with 9.78 points.
"(Yuan) Xiaochao is my strongest rival in the Games this time and four years ago," Zhao said. He waited and watched Yuan's performance after his own show, as he not only cared about the results, but also wanted to learn from others.
The 11th National Games features 29 major events. In the Wushu tournament, Taolu is held in Binzhou City from Oct. 12 to 14 and Sanshou will run from Oct. 14 to 17 in Heze City, both in Shandong Province. |
