China's Liu Kun, 21-year old from Shandong Province, won the women's pitch and placed second in the obstacle swimming event in the 53rd World Championship Military Pentathlon in Vienna New City, Austria on Sunday.

 

After three days' actions, Liu got the overall individual lead with 4,299.6 points, followed by teammates Tian Linna and Xu Lei.

 

The Chinese women would be very likely to win their sixth team title as the individual top honor would also be booked by the Chinese.

 

However, their male compatriots ended to the third place after the obstacle swimming on Sunday, and their fate on the medal podium would depend on the result of men's pitch, hold on Monday.

 

Although some team members were injured in the action after several days' drastic training and competition, the Chinese team has the tradition of "being ready for the warm battles, and fighting to the end. So the men's team still has chance to win the gold medal," Chen Meilin, head of the Chinese delegation, told Xinhua News Agency.

 

Heretofore, the Chinese team with 10 members had three first places in the women's event of obstacle running, shooting and pitch.

 

The 53rd World Championship Military Pentathlon opened last Thursday in Vienna New City, 40 kilometers south of Vienna.

 

More than 200 athletes from 33 countries and regions fight for six gold medals in the men and women individual, team and relay events.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2006)