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China takes two Mistral golds at Doha Asiad
12/12/2006 10:25

China grabbed the two of the three golds decided on Monday in the Mistral competitions at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, while the other one went to Hong Kong of China.

China's Chen Lina won the gold medal in the women's Mistral class and her teammate Yao Xinhao claimed the men's Mistral heavy class title, while Chan King Yin from Hong Kong finished first in the men's Mistral light class.

Chen, 21, won the first sailing event at the Asiad with a tiny edge over her rival Chan Wai Kei from Hong Kong of China, who got the silver.

"I did very well in the last five or six races due to small wind, so I have the chance (to win the gold)," Chen told Xinhua after the victory ceremony held Monday evening at the Doha Sailing Club.

Chen and Chan had equal net points of 12, but Chen scored five first finishes out of total nine races, while Chan collected four.

The bronze medal of the women's Mistral event went to Tansai Napalai from Thailand.

Meanwhile, Yao, 17, won the gold of the men's Mistral heavy with a four-point lead over his major rival Ho Chi Ho from Hong Kong of China, who got the silver.

"I made it here!" Yao told Xinhua after the races.

Ho Chi Ho said, "Generally speaking, Yao is very skillful and It's in his advantage to compete in a small wind."

The bronze medal of the event went to Sulaksana I Gusti Made Oka from Indonesia.

In the men's Mistral light, Hong Kong's Chan King Yin finished first while China's Zeng Xiaohong ranked second.

"He (Chan King Yin) is technically more skillful than me and performed better on the sea," Zeng, who was born in China's inland Sichuan Province, said at the press conference following the victory ceremony on Monday evening.



Xinhua News