Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
China (Beijing Morning News) :
After going through routine check-ups and therapies for half a month in Beijing, Luo Xuejuan has returned to her hometown Hangzhou for a short rest before resuming training. Luo's new coach will be selected from four Zhejiang coaches Zhu Zhigen, Xu Guoyi, Tao Rong and Zheng Kunliang.
|
|
1/7/2007, 8:19 am
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
(China Sports Paper)
The Chinese Swimming Federation reported their analysis of their four aquatic sports teams - swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo. They felt that the swim team has to make much more progress in their training techniques and research, for example altitude training, in order to achieve breakthrough in swimming events. Also, as overwhelming favourites for 2008 Olympics, the diving team must persevere to maintain their advantages. The CSA also thought the table tennis team has excelled in all aspects towards becoming the best team in the world and their teams have much to learn from the table tennis federation.
(Xinlang Sports)
China's Head Coach Zhang Yadong was selected as one of the most influential figures in 2006 for Zhejiang province. He received his award from three top Zhejiang swimmers -- Wu Peng, Yang Yu and Chen Hua.
Last edited by sportsworld, 1/17/2007, 4:16 pm
|
|
1/16/2007, 4:17 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
China :
Rumours are rife that Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan is weary of her fluctuating health conditions in intense training and has planned to end her quest for 2008 Olympic glory. Luo won the women's 100m breaststroke gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and five world titles at two World Championships in 2001 and 2003. After the Athens Olympics, she had expressed her desire to defend her Olympic title in 2008.
Both Head Coach Zhang Yadong and CSA's Deputy Director Shang Xiutang have denied any knowledge of Luo's plans to retire. They said they haven't received any word from her or Zhejiang Province Swimming Federation. Shang also he had spoken to her several times recently but she never mentioned anything about retiring.
Even though Luo was one of two swimmers given a wild card for the 2007 World Championships, coaches earlier revealed it's very difficult for her to return to the physical level required for heavy training so soon, so it's unlikely she'll swim in Melbourne.
Last edited by sportsworld, 1/24/2007, 4:03 pm
|
|
1/24/2007, 3:41 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
China :
(Eastern Sports Paper)
Xu Yanwei donated her 2006 Asian Games gold medal to China's sports museum. This gold medal came from her pet event -- the 100m freestyle. She revealed, "Among my three Asian Games gold medals, this is the one I treasure most." The purpose of this gift is to help promote many cultural activities organised by the sports museum for the 2008 Olympics.
(China News Web)
Sichuan Evening News confirmed that Luo Xuejuan wanted to retire from swimming. Despite much coaxing from many reporters, Luo Xuejuan had refused earlier to either confirm or deny retirement rumours, saying it wasn't decided yet. Finally, someone succeeded in persuading one of Luo's closest friends to talk to her, and Luo was reported to admit her retirement decision. In fact, she was very determined to retire even though her friend advised her to reconsider.
|
|
1/26/2007, 6:51 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
China:
2004 Athens Olympic Champion Luo Xuejuan finally announced her official retirement from swimming.
(Luo Xuejuan displaying her award of achievement at her retirement news conference)
Athens Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan announced her official retirement from swimming three days after her 23rd birthday. At the retirement news conference today, the CSA presented her with an award of achievement.
Zhang Yadong, her former coach and current Head Coach of the Chinese national team, sat beside Luo at the conference and couldn't help his tears from flowing. In her farewell speech, Luo Xuejuan maintained her compusure throughout with a smile on her face. "I'm grateful for the warmth and support from our national team. Although I'm leaving the team today, I'll continue to contribute towards 2008 Olympics for this family. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better."
From Wu Peng's blog
It's already two weeks since we arrived at Beijing from our respective hometowns. I feel rather tired after these two weeks because my body hasn't adapted to the training yet. My hometown Hangzhou was slightly colder than Beijing, but I really don't like the static shocks we have here in Beijing -- it's everywhere.
I went for some photo shoots this morning for China's Sports Illustrated Paper and had to swim in extremely cold water, much colder than the pool we used for training. I haven't seen the pictures yet but I think they should look pretty good. I'll post some of them here once I get them. Hehe !
Zhang Yadong saw light, two nights before Luo Xuejuan's retirement news conference
Q: There are many versions of retirement rumours about Luo Xuejuan. Some said she already submitted her application for retirement to Zhejiang Swimming Federation, some also said the CSA doesn't know anything about this. What's going on here ?
A: Actually, Luo Luo has finally made her decision to retire, it's just that she only mentioned it to the CSA verbally. The CSA has also basically accepted her application due to her physical conditions. Next Monday, she'll hold a news conference at Hangzhou to announce her retirement.
Q: What exactly happened to her body ?
A: It's quite a serious condition for an athlete, the medical experts told her she shouldn't continue with her training any longer.
Q: How do you view her retirement ?
A: All of us really don't want to see her retire so soon. She has always wished to swim at the 2008 Olympics. She's still young and I hope she won't retire now, nurse her body back to proper shape and go from there. It's a pity her health conditions put a halt to this. She's retiring because of this, and not because of the much rumoured falling out with CSA.
Q: What's her next move ?
A: At the moment, the CSA and Zhejiang Swimming Federation won't assign her any post. She'll return to school to complete her studies.
Q: How about the future ?
A: All I can say is, the door's always open for her to make a comeback. As my pupil, as long as she requests for it, I'll do my best to help her return. My only hope now is, everyone won't malign her nor attack her in any manner. Chinese swimming won't forget her. Most of China's glory in swimming came from her efforts.
Q: You've brought her up for the longest time and was even considered a perfect model of teacher-student relationship. However, now there are many rumours circulating about the friction between the two of you. Any comments on that ?
A: I've brought her up for ten years, from Zhejiang province team to the national team. I treat her like my own daughter and she treats me like a father. In a family, there's always some friction now and then but Luo Xuejuan is my pupil and will always remain a daughter to me. We don't have any major disagreement that will affect our relationship.
Q: You've been in the dark about her current plans. Have you contacted each other recently ?
A: She shut her handphone off all the time recently, so I wasn't able to contact her. Yesterday's her birthday so I sent a message to her which she replied. I called her and we had a very long chat, it appears she had a lot of things she'd wanted to tell me during this period but wasn't able to.
Last edited by sportsworld, 1/29/2007, 4:49 pm
|
|
1/29/2007, 3:47 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
(Xinhua Net)
Luo Xuejuan's interview.
Q. Any regrets after announcing your retirement ?
A. Most definitely. This type of regret is very different from the regret after suffering a defeat in the pool. Although I don't really wish to retire, it's an inevitable decision. It's an experience, I'll have to slowly adapt and get on with my life.
Q: Someone spread the rumour that the rate of your heart beat is faster than 200 under normal circumstances.
A: The correct way of saying is, it cannot reach 200 in future, otherwise my life may be at risk. Usually most people won't go through such intense exercise, but professional swimmers do. So, I cannot train nor compete with such intensity any more. Under normal circumstances, there's no way one's heart-beat can reach such an extreme rate.
Q: Can you describe when's the last time your conditions cause you discomfort and what happened ?
A: It was 23rd November last year. The training then wasn't too heavy but I suddenly felt very uncomfortable at the training center and the pain was different from previous times. I told my team mates to send me to the hospital, but because the Mount Xiao training camp is very far from Hangzhou city, it took three hours to reach the hospital ! When I entered the emergency room, my heartbeat was pumping at 200 per minute. The doctor told me had I reached the hospital later, my life would be in danger. Fortunately, it hasn't happened again since and I'm now fine like everyone else.
Q: How's it different from previous occasions ?
A: In the past, when I was exhausted from heavy training, there would be a sudden interval of discomfort for a minute or half a minute and I'll feel my strength draining from me. Others may think I've fainted but I'd remain very conscious. Then with some relaxing in the pool, it would go away. This time, the pain was longer and felt different too.
Q: How did you reach the decision to retire ?
A: Before this incident, I've never thought of retirement. Even when I went for an operation recently, I was still very confident of enduring till 2008. I thought once I stepped out from the hospital, I could carry on swimming. However, the doctor's words this time made me face the truth. Even now, I feel that without this ailment, I definitely can trudge on for a few more years.
Q: How did your family and friends react to your decision ?
A: Many people supported me in my decision, including the media network. I'm very grateful to them. It's a very difficult choice to make.
Q: What does Beijing Olympics mean to you ?
A: As with many other veteran athletes in China, the reason why we continue after 2004 was because the 2008 Olympics is in Beijing, in China. Otherwise, I'd have retire shortly after 2004. My understanding is, it's a very sacred meet to us; we'll devote wholeheartedly to this Olympics.
Q: How did you gauge your chances at the 2008 Olympics before this ?
A: I've always felt that I'll stand a great chance to defend my title at 2008 Olympics. I was totally gunning for victory and knew I'd give my best fight, just like before the 2004 Olympics. Although it wasn't a bed of roses after Athens, my confidence never wavered.
Q: Zhang Yadong was exceedingly upset after learning about your retirement. What are your thoughts on this ?
A: As his pupil in the past, the only way to repay him for his guidance was through my results. Now that I'm leaving the team, he'll become part of my family. No matter where he go, I'll forever be indebted to him. He's not only my teacher, he's my father and friend too. He had spent more time with me in the past than with his wife and children. We understand each other very well.
Q: Many people said you had to retire because your leaders were offended by your attitude and headstrong personality. Is it true ?
A: I don't think I have any major problem with my attitude. Whatever they want to describe me, including how they link my retirement to my personality, I won't bother myself too much.
Q: What's your future plans for your life ?
A: Giving up my dreams is very tough for me. I hope I can quickly adapt to this drastic change in my career and life in general. I really don't know what I will do, what is suitable for me. My short-term objective is to nurse my health back to better shape, focus on my studies and continue learning.
(Xinmin Evening News)
Qi Hui, former national team mate and domestic rival to Luo Xuejuan in women's breaststroke, wished her well and hoped Luo will recover soonest. "It's very regretful. We've competed alongside each other for very long and even though we focussed on different events, we both swam breaststroke and exchanged our thoughts many times. I'll miss her very much but her health has to come first. I sincerely hope for her speedy recovery. "
Qi Hui is currently training hard for the March World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. "The training volume is quite heavy, so it's exhausting. I hope I can swim some fast times at the Worlds, perhaps some PBs. It'll help with my confidence for the Olympics next year."
Last edited by sportsworld, 2/14/2007, 3:49 pm
|
|
2/1/2007, 4:13 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
Japan:
2006 Pan Pacs champion Ito Hanae completed three wins at a short-course meet in Chiba, Japan. She timed 59.54 in the 100m backstroke, 2:07.49 (1:01.70 split) in the 200m backstroke and 28.24 seconds in the 50m. Tomomi Morita was victorious in the men's 100m backstroke with a time of 52.26 seconds. He also won the 50m race in 24.24 seconds and the 200m in 1:53.84. Murakami Yumi claimed the women's 200m breaststroke title with a strong 2:24.95 swim whilst winning the 100m in 1:08.16.
Singapore :
Joscelyn Yeo, Singapore's top female swimmer for the past decade, has decided to retire from swimming. She has won many gold medals at several Southeast Asian Games and two Asian Games bronze medals in the women's 100m butterfly.
Last edited by sportsworld, 2/6/2007, 5:16 pm
|
|
2/6/2007, 5:10 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
China: More than 170 swimmers from China's National Team and Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Army and Shandong provincial teams participated in the 2007 Lunar New Year short-course training trials at the CSA swimming pool. This meet was specially arranged this year for the teams to analyse their results after winter training. Asian Games champion Zhou Yafei lowered her own Asian record to 57.60 seconds in the women's 100m butterfly. She then swam to another title with a time of 54.88 seconds in the 100m freestyle, defeating top-ranked swimmers in this event for China -- Xu Yanwei and Zhu Yingwen.
Yafei was rather surprised at her new continental standard. "I'm feeling great today, but I didn't anticipate breaking this record." Her coach Yao Ying, on the other hand, totally expected Yafei to swim this fast. In fact, she listed 57.60 seconds as Yafei's entry time because Yafei had swum this fast in her training sessions. Yafei will receive an early "red packet" for the Lunar New Year because the CSA had announced cash incentives, in the form of vouchers, for breaking records at this training meet. Even though it's not an official meet, drug-testing was still conducted including blood testing for each National Team member. There're also biomechanics experts at pool-side analysing the stroke rates and techniques of the swimmers at each event.
Wu Peng competed in four events but failed to win any, including his pet event. He did finish in the top three in all his events. "I'll focus on the men's 200m butterfly at the Worlds and challenge for a medal. Other than Michael Phelps (USA), there're about five or six swimmers at the same level in this event and anyone of us is capable of medalling. " Zhang Lin will as usual compete in 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay at the World Champonships. "I'm in pretty good shape at the moment and hope to swim fast next month. After the Worlds, I'll get a better idea of which event(s) to specialise in, for the 2008 Olympics. "
Head Coach Zhang Yadong declared that China's World Championship roster has been finalised so this meet wasn't part of the selection trials for the Worlds next month. He also mentioned Wu Peng, Ouyang Kunpeng, Zhang Lin as the ones to watch at Worlds; on the women's side, only Qi Hui is expected to challenge the best swimmers in the world. The usually optimistic Head Coach this time however isn't expecting as many gold medals as the previous World Championships at Barcelona in 2003. Luo Xuejuan singlehandedly took two individual gold medals and helped the women's medley relay team to a gold medal at Barcelona but she has retired recently. Zhang Yadong said his team is on the rise with possibly more swimmers making the finals but their hopes for gold have diminished greatly with Luo's retirement.
Wang Qun, World Junior Champion and tipped to replace Luo Xuejuan in women's breaststroke, will miss the World Championships. According to Zhang, Wang Qun had competed in too many meets last year, sometimes a week apart, and her training was thus affected. After a good first half of the year where she performed well at the short-course Worlds and at the World Junior Championships, her performances plummetted towards the end of the year and did not record any fast time as expected at the Asian Games. Zhang Yadong said Wang Qun is very young and the coaches have decided to let her focus on training with special attention to her techniques, rather than compete too often.
For Lunar New Year celebrations, Zhang Yadong revealed that they've arranged for a feast at the Tian Tan Hotel and will invite all the coaches, swimmers and their families.
Last edited by sportsworld, 2/17/2007, 2:58 pm
|
|
2/17/2007, 2:57 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
Japan: Men's 50m freestyle Asian Games silver medallist Ito Makoto sliced 0.03 seconds off the previous 50m freestyle national mark to set a Japanese record of 22.25 secs at a short-course meet in Tokyo.
After returning from altitude training at a camp in Arizona, USA, Kosuke Kitajima swam 2:06.93 (split 1:00.51) in the men's 200m breaststroke, rather close to his Japanese record. Double Asian Games gold medallist Reiko Nakamura claimed two women's backstroke titles with times of 59.92 (29.03) and 2:06.78 (1:01.74).
|
|
2/24/2007, 10:49 am
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
sportsworld
Administrator
Global user
Registered: 08-2004
Posts: 1363
Karma: 2 (+2/-0)
|
|
|
|
Re: Asian Swimming News Updates ( Articles and Interviews from China, Japan, South Korea etc)
Japan Open 2007 (25m) Day One Report
Three Asian records fell on the first day of competition at the short-course 2007 Japan Open, together with several other Japanese records.
Ryuichi Shibata swam to a new Asian record of 1:51.30 in the men's 200m butterfly, more than a second better than the previous mark set by Wu Peng (CHN) at the short-course World Championships last year. Yuko Nakanishi (JPN) bettered her own 200m butterfly national record by 0.5 seconds and was only 0.17 seconds away from the world record held by Yang Yu (CHN). Yurie Yano, Asian Games champion in this event, was second in 2:06.46 whilst Asian Games medalist Choi Hye Ra (KOR) was third in 2:06.54. Natsuki Akiyama came in fourth with a time of 2:07.15.
800m freestyle Olympic champion Ai Shibata showed she's ready for the World Championships with a new Asian record of 8:13.34 in her best event, the previous mark was held by team mate Sachiko Yamada. Tomomi Morita took down Japanese records in the men's 50m and 200m backstroke events -- 24.05 and 1:53.41. Daisuke Hosokawa also set a new Japanese record of 1:45.32 in the men's 200m freestyle.
Kosuke Kitajima held off a challenge from heir-apparent 18 year-old Ryo Tateishi in the men's 100m breaststroke to win in 58.34 seconds. Ryo Tateishi clocked a new high school record with his 59.48 seconds. Three other swimmers went under 1:00. Jade Edmistone (AUS) dominated the women's 100m breaststroke final with her 1:05.85 (30.70 split). Yoshimi Miwa and Megumi Taneda clocked 1:06.81 and 1:06.95 respectively to finish 2nd and 3rd.
Japan's top two female backstroke stars, Reiko Nakamura and Hanae Ito dominated the women's 200m backstroke event as expected, clocking 2:04.48 and 2:05.33. In the 50m backstroke final, veteran Mai Nakamura relegated the duo to minor placings with her 27.18 swim, Reiko Nakamura and Hanae Ito also went under 28 seconds (27.21 and 27.86).
Makoto Ito took back his national record with a time of 22.05 seconds in the men's 50m freestyle; second-placed Hisayoshi Sato, who broke Makoto's previous record of 22.25 in the heats, also went under his heats record of 22.09 with his 22.06 swim. Therese Alshammar (SWE) easily won the women's 50m freestyle in 24.25 seconds whilst Cate Campbell (AUS) took silver with her 24.89, having gone under 25 seconds in the long course version earlier this year. Alshammar also won the women's 50m butterfly final in a time of 25.50 seconds; second-placed Yuka Kato set a new Asian record of 26.12 seconds.
|
|
3/3/2007, 4:58 pm
|
Send Email to sportsworld
Send PM to sportsworld
Blog
|
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 11/28/2009, 5:54 am
|
|
|