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 of
men'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.
(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2006)