August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

QINGDAO (China), Aug 6: China, yet to win a gold medal in Olympic sailing, hope to emerge from the Qingdao regatta having demonstrated their improvement at the elite end of the sport, team manager Yao Xinpei said on Wednesday.

China have won two silver medals in windsurfing — Zhang Xiaodong in 1992 and Yin Jian in Athens four years ago.

Windsurfing is part of the sailing regatta at the Games.

Yao said no specific medal targets had been set but hoped Chinese sailors would reflect the growth in popularity of the sport in the county by “showcasing the achievement and improvement the China team has enjoyed over the past few years.”

“Asian countries do not feature highly [in the entries]. Our aim is to learn from the advanced sailing countries,” Yao told reporters at the Olympic Sailing Centre.

“Recent Olympic history shows that Asian countries have pocketed five medals from the 1996 and 2004 Games, but in 2000 there were no medals at all.

“But we have enjoyed great growth [in sailing] after Beijing won the (Games) bid.”

Yin is among the favourites for gold in Qingdao while Laser sailor Xu Lijia, 20, heads into the regatta ranked two in the world in her class.

Xu, from Shanghai, made her breakthrough in 2006 when she took world gold.

“Our main challenge is to learn how to maintain good form,” added Yao.“China’s sailing team are now confident, we have improved our performance.”

Away from the Olympics, China last year challenged for the America’s Cup for the first time on a budget of $21.65 million but they had problems with their boat and crew and came 11th out of 11.—Reuters