Having collected two silver medals in three previous trips to
the Olympic Games, Chinese veteran archer He Ying is striving for a
fourth try in Beijing next year.
"I wanna have a try, because I love archery and I have something
unfinished," the 30-year-old He told Xinhua at the Asian Archery
Championships, where she failed to reach top 16 in the recurve
individual competitions.
"I have regrets for the past Olympics, and I really wanna give
it a last shot at the Beijing Games next year."
He Ying made her fame in her Olympic debut when she won the
silver for the individual recurve at the Atlanta Games in 1996.
Following lackluster performance at the Sydney Games, He Ying
helped China clinch the second place for the team event at the
Athens Games in 2004. However, she crashed out of the individual
quarter-finals after being penalized 0 ring twice for shooting
violations.
"It's so hard to leave the competition that way," said He. "I
was really in top form at that Games."
"I was so concentrated in my game that I did not hear the
warning of the judge," she added.
After the Athens Games, He Ying retired from the national team
and became a coach for the provincial team of Jilin.
However, the passion for the sport still burns deep in her
heart.
In September, 2006, right after her honeymoon, He Ying left her
husband, a retired archer, to compete in the national
championships, where she finished sixth and booked a ticket in the
national training camp.
"I owed my husband a lot," said He. "I have spent very little
time with him since we got married. But he has been very
considerate and supportive to me."
Facing strong challenge from younger players, He has to work
really hard to win a ticket to Beijing.
"I did not do very well at this Asian Championships. I have to
get back to my game step by step," He said. "It will be very
difficult for me to win a ticket, but I will try my best even if
there is only a tiny hope."
"If I fail to go to Beijing, I hope my teammates can beat South
Korea and win a gold. Then I will have no regret any more," He said
with a smile.
(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2007)