Skiers race to fame under foreign coaches
(Xinhua)Updated: 2007-02-02 08:48 "Chinese women biathletes are competitive in Asia and even in the world," said Siebert, who signed with the Chinese squad six months ago with a contract until 2008.
The Chinese women have reaped success at the international stage this season, placing third in World Cup Series in Austria and Germany apiece. Youngster Dong Xue ranked seventh on the overall World Cup standings after five competitions.
However, there are still obstacles for the Chinese skiers en route to the top of the world.
"I suggest our athletes focus on biathlon alone. Some of our athletes are doing both biathlon and cross-country, but biathlon is a very difficult sport, it will be too difficult to do another sport at the same time," Siebert said on Thursday.
"At the Asian Winter Games, it's OK. But at the international stage, our athletes have to focus on one sport," he added.
"We need to have more top athletes and form a contingent in the sport, at least five or six excellent skiers in the team."
There are around 30 professional biathletes in the country, mainly from the Chinese army. In China, there is only one training base for the sport.
"And we are in short of sponsors and money to race in the world-class competitions."
"Hopefully, China can hold more biathlon competitions on home soil and broadcast the matches on TV.
"In Europe, biathlon is so popular that tens of thousands of fans climb up the mountains to watch the competitions at the spot.
"But here in China, the sports fans did not have much interest in winter sports."
Obviously, Ronnestrand is in the same boat with Siebert, but the happy Swede is positive towards the troubles.
"Nothing is impossible, I prefer to look at the future," he said with a beam.
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