As the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games looms down, athletes worldwide
have great concern over anything pertinent to the Olympics.
Pre-Olympic archery trial opened up in Beijing on Monday to render
archers much-valued experiences.
For US top archer Jennifer Nichols, the experiences in the
Olympic venue are much valued than results before the Olympic Games
officially show up.
"Actually, I don't have any expectation. I just came here to
experience the weather and the venue. It's my first time in China.
I'm here for experience," said Nichols after the women's
preliminaries, who finished fourth in this year's World
Championships in Leipzig of Germany.
For Nichols, the weather in Beijing is not in her favor, but the
venue impresses her.
"The weather does take some time to get used to, because I come
from a very dry place and here is much more humid. But the venue is
so beautiful, I like it very much. There is a little wind today,
but it's an excellent location," said Nichols.
Nichols revealed her knack of easing up during competition.
"Sometimes we (archers) just talked about the weather or how we
shot one end or another. Sometimes about family at home. Just all
kinds of stuff. It helped me to be more concentrated and relaxed,"
added Nichols.
Nichols' concern is echoed by Chinese Taipei's coach Li Zheng
Lan.
"We do not have a set goal. We just came here to experience the
field and adapt to the conditions here," said Li after the women's
preliminaries.
Chinese Taipei is ranked in the fifth place in women's team in
1,923 points. They captured the silver at the Leipzig World
Championship last month.
Japan's Hayakawa Nami, who is originally from South Korea but
now competing for Japan, also put her priority on test like the
tournament does.
"Well, my priorities are to test the field and my form as well.
They are equally important for me here. Medals? No, I don't think
that's what I came here for," Hayakawa said.
Hayakawa took gold at the Indoor World Championships in Turkey
this year.
In terms of results in the preliminaries, it's an awful day for
British archer Naomi Folkard, but she was not depressed for she met
her main objectives here.
Folkard shot to the clicker in the seventh end, and then got a
one in the eighth end.
"The outcome does not matter. I am just learning for next year,
like becoming familiar with the surroundings, the weather and the
wind," said Folkard, adding that could help her to be mentally
stronger next year.
Folkard is worried with the hot weather here, so to experience
more is a must for her to acclimatize herself to the Beijing
Olympics better.
"It's very hot, and maybe it will affect my performance and
concentration, so the experience here beforehand is extraordinarily
significant," said Folkard.
International Archery Tournament is one of a series of
pre-Olympic test events in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.
There are 113 archers from 27 nations and regions taking part in
the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic archery test slated for August
20-26.
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2007)