Chinese long jumper eyes a medal in Moscow
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E-mail Xinhua, June 27, 2013
The 23-year-old Li Jinzhe has never made the final of any major intercontinental tournaments before, but his solid performance this season so far has given him enough confidence to expect a medal in the IAAF World Championships in Moscow Russia this summer.
"The minimal goal for the Moscow World Championships is top eight and I will try my best to fight for a podium finish," said the Beijing native on Thursday, who is attending a training camp in Beijing with his national teammates preparing for the biyearly competitions slated for Aug. 8 to 18.
"I am in a very good shape now," Li said. "I just finished a physical training session in the United States and returned home the day before yesterday. The session is like a gas station. I feel I am full of energy now."
The 1.93-meter Li started long jump training in 2006 when he was still a high school student and has jumped over eight metres every year since first managing the feat in 2009. He has been enjoying a successful year in 2013. He improved his indoor personal best to 8.11m in Stockholm on February 21 , and went on to add 9cm to his outdoor personal best as he porduced a world leading 8.34m to claim the title at 2013 IAAF Diamond League Shanghai meet in May.
"It is definitely my biggest win," said Li after that event, referring to not only the result he achieved but also the quality of the field he beat, which included the past three Olympic champions namely Dwight Phillips in 2004, Irving Saladino in 2008 and Greg Rutherford in London 2012.
One week later in Beijing at the 2013 IAAF World Challenge, Li proved his victory in Shanghai was not a fluke. This time he was facing another strong field including Panama's Beijing Olympic champion Saladino and three of the last four IAAF World Indoor Championships gold medallists: Ghana's Ignisious Gaisah, South Africa's Godfrey Mokoena and Australia's Fabrice Lapierre, who won their titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010 respectively. However, Li only needed his first jump of 8.31m to seal the win.
The in-form Beijinger could have charged for a new personal best in front of his home supporters. But he scratched his left elbow to the edge of the pit during his third jump and had to quit the competition for first aid.
"I had seven stitches and the injury did affected my training for some days because when I swang my arms or my elbow touched the sand, it hurt a lot. But now I am fully recovered," Li said.
With hurdling star Liu Xiang still out injured and China's race-walking team threatened by an ambitious Russian squad racing on their home soil, the rising Li, with his solid performences, will provide China with another medal hope in Moscow.
"As long as I avoid injuries and illness, I can maintain my stability and jump in my top level. I am not that kind of a guy who will be bothered by stage fright," said a confident Li.
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