The triple world gymnastics champion Yang Wei from China arrived in Doha on
Monday for the 15th Asian Games, and he held high confidence to repeat his glory
at Aarhus Gymnastic worlds.
Yang claimed three titles out of men's team, all-round individual and parallel bars at Aarhus Gymnastic World Championships,
which bestowed him first ever individual world crown after being enlisted in the
national team for more than a decade.
Yang gave his credit of sudden outburst at Aarhus worlds to Huang Yubin's
training and he believed Huang was capable of rendering him confidence at Doha
Asian Games. "No other coach can function as Huang Yubin in digging the
potential out of each gymnast," said Yang, who brewed the thought of retirement
two years ago after suffering a huge flop in Athens Olympics.
In Yang's mind, it's Huang Yubin's return to the position of head coach
promoted his upgrading two years after his waterloo in Athens where he finished
only in seventh place in all-round event.
"The time is running out for a veteran gymnast like me and the task is as
heavy as a mountain. I can realize that even in my dreams," said Yang in
recalling the past days.
Huang saved Yang from falling down, but Huang also inflicted hardship to Yang
in his iron hand training. "I have been training in national team for more than
ten years, but I have never experienced the training so hard as I had done under
Huang Yubin. I have to practise from morning to evening every day two months
before the Aarhus gymnastic worlds and I could feel the pain from top to tip
when I lied down on my bed at night in that period of time," said Yang.
"My training program before the world championships was even heavier than
that setting up for the Athens Olympic Games, but I had to follow the program
strictly under the supervision of Huang.He told me he would not care about my
training if I failed to reach his requirements, so I just hanged on until the
championships came. Three gold medals in Aarhus approved Huang's rigid training
really paid off. I should thank Huang in spite of those hardship after three
glittering golds on my neck in Aarhus,"added Yang.
"Now I trust Huang and I think he is my backbone for any competition. The
Asian Games is coming, and I am not sure what will happen here, but the
confidence is with me as Huang is there guarding me to challenge anybody. I feel
well now to face the Games in Doha," added Yang.
It's the third Asian Games for Yang after two fruitful journey in previous
two Games, among which he wrapped up two titles out o fmen's team and floor
exercise at 1998 Bangkok Games and duplicated his double victories in men's team
and all-round four years later in Busan 2002 Games.