With a bunch of big names gathering in the Olympic archery
workout in Beijing, it's nameless French archers that adapt to the
Olympic field the best on Monday.
Firstly, French archer Berengere Schuh, world No. 43, broke the
French women's 70m round record with 657 points, ranking fourth in
preliminaries of the Olympic trial -- International Archery
Tournament.
Then another French archer Girouille Romain, world No. 28,
followed suit to reset French men's 70m round record and his
personal best in 662 points, finishing in 13th place in
preliminaries.
Schuh was excited with the national record and aimed to win a
medal in the Beijing Olympic Games.
"I am really happy to chalk a new French record for FITA
(archery governing body) round with 657 points today, so it is a
big day for me," said Schuh, adding her main objective is gaining a
medal in the Beijing Olympic Games next year.
Romain confirmed French coach's training method turned out
good.
"To prepare for the Beijing Olympic Games held next year, we
will do a lot of training in various countries to adjust ourselves
to different weathers as our coach plans," said Romain.
"At the same time, we will participate in a variety of
competitions to get familiar with the facilities and learn how to
perform well.
"It is so great that the French team broke two records today in
the women's and men's ranking round," added Romain.
"Though ranking 13th today, I feel as pleased to make a
breakthrough on my personal best and to break the French record for
the 70m round as I did in Leipzig this March, winning the Junior
World Championship."
International Archery Tournament, the Olympic test event, is one
of a series of pre-Olympic test events in the run-up to the Beijing
Olympics.
There are 113 archers from 27 nations and regions taking part in
the "Good Luck Beijing" Olympic archery test slated for August
20-26.
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2007)