Source: CCTV.com

01-17-2008 13:24

The 11th National Winter Games will officially raise its curtain in Qiqihar in two days, and the country's top figure skaters will show off their skills in the women's single event on Thursday. But most of them are still unknown to the world, and they still have a long way to go in catching up with the world's best. Our reporter Wang Lulu is in Qiqihar with a closer look at the Chinese women's figure skating team.

The 11th National Winter Games will officially raise its curtain in Qiqihar in two days, and the country's top figure skaters will show off their skills in the women's single event on Thursday.(File photo)
The 11th National Winter Games will officially
raise its curtain in Qiqihar in two days, and
the country's top figure skaters will show off
their skills in the women's single event on
Thursday.(File photo)

Wang Lulu, Qiqihar, said, "When mention the Chinese lady's single skating event, people will easily think about the name Chen Lu. Known as the Butterfly Queen on the Ice, Chen Lu won the champion at the ladies event in 1996 World Championships and bronze medal at the 17th and 18th Olympic Winter Games."

But after Chen Lu's era, the situation of the country's women's single event began to slide.

Yao Bin, Head Coach of National Figure Skating, said, "After Chen Lu's era, some excellent skaters have also emerged, but our entire women's single team has developed relatively slower than that of Japan and South Korea."

However, delightful enough, that many young talents are booming, such as Xu Binshu, who finished 7th in the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and 12-year-old Geng Bingwa, who is considered as the most prospecting rookie of the team. All of these young talents will show their best performance in the upcoming National Winter Games.

Among them, Liu Yan, ranks the top place. She may represent the highest level of the event in China. Even though, Liu Yan only finished the 11th place in 2006 Winter Olympics, which was also the best result in 10 years.

And the reasons for the events slow-development in the country are from many aspects.

"There are many reasons, including the skaters' continuous injuries, and the expertise of the coaches are also limited.

Wang Lulu, Qiqihar, said, "But this doesn't mean the hopes for the team's comeback are slim. In fact, as the Chinese skaters see more achievements in the pair skating and men's single event around the world, the problems in the women's single event are starting to get resolved. All that need is time and experience. Wang Lulu, CCTV, Qiqihar."

 

Editor:Yang Jie