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By Sportswriter Gao Peng
ATHENS, Aug. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese veteran shooter Wang Yifu won an
Olympic gold at the age of 44. Now compatriot Gao E is hoping to follow suit.
The second oldest athlete of Team China competing in the AthensOlympics,
the 42-year-old Gao will compete in the women's trap shooting event on Monday.
With her sight set on the Athens Olympics, Gao had refused to retire after
grabbing a bronze medal at the Sydney Games in 2000.
"Of course, I hope to win a gold medal in Athens," said Gao before leaving
for the Aug. 13-29 Games. "But the competition there is sure to be tough."
A field of experienced markswomen, including Russian Irina Laritcheva
Irina, Ukraine's world record holder Victoria Chuyko and Susanne Kiermayer of
Germany, are expected to pose great threats to Gao.
But Gao, who won a World Cup race in Athens last April, should have a clear
psychological edge over her rivals when they are backto the windy Markopoulo
shooting center.
"The wind at the Markopoulo shooting center is rather strong," said Sun
Shengwei, a Chinese national shooting coach.
"The direction of an target is prone to changes with big winds,so it may
affect the athletes' performance. Anybody who adjusts more to the weather
conditions has a bigger chance to win," he added.
The Markopoulo shooting center, which is about 44 kms from the city center
of Athens, was built on a hillside. According to Sun, the wind speed could reach
61 kilometers per hour at peak.
Defending Olympic champion Cai Yalin of China will be a noticeable absentee
in the men's 10m air rifle, the other event tobe contested on Monday.
Cai, who came from nowhere to win the gold at the Sydney Games in 2000, had
failed to make the Chinese Olympic roster due to low form.
Fellow countryman Li Jie and Zhu Qinan will carry the hopes of China.
American Jason Parker, winner of the 2002 World Championships, world number
one Jozef Gonci of the Czech Republic and South Korean teenager Cheon Min Ho are
hot favorites for the title. Enditem | 
