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SINGAPORE: Lu Jiateng has an Olympic dream, and the 110-metre hurdler already has a headstart over his peers.
Lu hails from the city of Shanghai, hometown to one of China’s most famous sportsmen, Liu Xiang. The 2007 world champion became the sixth man to go under 13 seconds in the 110m hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, breasting the tape in 12.91sec to win China’s first men’s gold in track and field at the Games.
Lu, who is part of China’s 12-strong athletics team here for the first Asian Youth Games, was just 11 when he watched the race on television, but remembers it as if it were yesterday.
Speaking after training at Bishan Stadium on Sunday, the 16-year-old said: “I remember watching both races on television and I was so happy when he won the world championships and the Olympics. No Chinese had won the events before that.
“I didn’t catch the Olympics in Beijing last year as I was in Japan for a competition, but my friends called me with the news of his injury as soon as I got home, and it was such a pity.
“But I think he’ll have a chance at the next Olympics in 2012.”
An only child, Lu’s first love was the 100m, but he converted to the 110m hurdles when he was 10, after a coach spotted the youngster’s talent. He qualified for the Asian Youth Games after finishing first in a youth meet in Shanghai in February, clocking a personal best of 13.67sec.
A month earlier at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival, Lu was the top Asian finisher in the 110m hurdles, clocking 14.71s to finish behind Aussies Cameron Hyde, Mitchell Tysoe and James Vine.
Lu, who wants to follow in the footsteps of his idol Liu Xiang and compete in the Olympics one day, has set his sights on the gold medal at these Games.
All athletics events will be held at Bishan Stadium and Round 1 of the 110m hurdles event is on Wednesday, with the boys’ final a day later.
“I want to win the gold medal,” he declared, revealing that his parents have promised a reward of 100 yuan ($21) if he finishes in the top three.
“I think I’ll be a little nervous before the race on Wednesday, but I’ll tell myself to relax and not think so much, and just run faster.”
Powerhouses China have entered a field of 81 athletes in all nine sports — aquatics (swimming and diving), football, table tennis, athletics, shooting, bowling, 3-on-3 basketball, sailing and beach volleyball — across 90 events at the Games.
The team was part of the welcome ceremony at the Games Village at Swissotel the Stamford on Sunday, and chef de mission Cui Dalin says the focus will be on fostering friendship with fellow athletes and preparing for the Youth Olympic Games here next August.
“The Asian Youth Games is a good opportunity for the kids to interact with other athletes, and also for them, and us the officials, to understand and get used to the conditions here for the Youth Olympics,” he told Today.
Cui, who is deputy director of China’s General Administration of Sport, added: “It’s hard to say which countries will be strong here as the kids are still young and we don’t know the standards yet. But for our
team, the challenge is for them to compete against themselves.”
For 17-year-old shot putter Li Jun, just being in Singapore is a reward in itself.
“I don’t know if I’ll be at the Youth Olympics, but I’m just happy to be here. It’s very nice and different from Nanjing, where I’m from.”
- TODAY/ yt
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