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Young Chinese Swimmers to Try for the Best in Fukuoka, Says Official
"Competing in a world-class event for the first time since Beijing's successful Olympic bid for the 2008 Games, Chinese swimmers and divers will try their best at the world championships," a leading Chinese swimming official said upon his arrival in Fukuoka Wednesday.
"Having a very young team here, our main purpose is to let them gain international experience and be informed of the latest development of world swimming," said Li Hua, chief-de-commision of the Chinese delegation. "We'll try to win medals, especially gold ones," he said at the Fukuoka airport.
Li led a 24-member group of Chinese officials, coaches and athletes for the world championships, which was the second batch following the synchronized swimmers who arrived here five days ago. More members of the Chinese delegation are to arrive here in groups.
In the newest arrivals here on Wednesday were four swimmers including Qi Hui, world record holder of the women's 200 meters breaststroke and China's top medal hope here, and Luo Xuejuan, world number one this year for both 50m and 100m breaststroke events.
They were accompanied by five divers.
"I'm in good form now," Qi said. She said she took teammate Luo as her main rival in the Fukuoka event.
The Chinese officials and athletes were met at the airport by Cheng Haibo, Consul of the Chinese Consulate General in the southern Japanese port city.
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