News Photos
Search Advanced Sign in / Register fans
 
WORLD NEWS    
 

Advertisement

Japan vows a record-matching performance at the Olympics
Agence France-Presse
Page 22
2010-02-10 12:00 AM
+ Enlarge This image
Japan's Mao Asada performs during the Gala exhibition at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Jeonju, South Korea in this Jan. 30 file photo.
Associated Press
Japan, which managed just one Winter Olympic medal in 2006, vowed on Monday to restore their pride with a record-matching performance at the Vancouver Games.

"Our athletes have worked hard for four years, aiming for the highest spot," Japan's chef de mission Seiko Hashimoto said.

"I cannot tell exactly how many. But It is quite natural for our delegation to try and match our best ever result we achieved at the Nagano Games," she told a news conference.

Japan collected a record 10 medals, including five golds, on home ice and snow in Nagano in 1998.

But their medal haul slipped to one silver and one bronze in 2002 and to only one at the Turin Games through the gold captured by Shizuka Arakawa who became Asia's first Olympic champion in figure skating.

The 2006 heartbreak was made more acute by the performances of their great Asian rivals as South Korea won 11 medals, including six golds, while China also claimed 11 medals, two of which were gold.

"I think our athletes seem relaxed," said Hashimoto who met Japanese moguls competitors earlier in the day, including world double women's champion Aiko Uemura and 1998 Olympic gold medalist Tae Satoya.

"I believe they will live up to our expectations."

Uemura, who has finished second twice but failed to win a race so far in the season's World Cup series, is keen to make the podium for the first time in her four Olympic outings.

 
Have Your Say :

We welcome your comments on this and other stories. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name and suburb/location. We also require a working e-mail address – not for publication, but for verification only.

 
Post your feedback
 
 
 
More WORLD News Stories
Finnish dock workers begin strike halting cargo   2010-03-04
Bank of England in "wait and see" mode   2010-03-04
Early voting begins ahead of March 7 Iraq election   2010-03-04
US panel set to vote on Armenian genocide measure   2010-03-04
Editorial Roundup: Excerpts from recent editorials   2010-03-04
Editorial Roundup: Excerpts from recent editorials   2010-03-04
Thailand offers tourists free insurance   2010-03-04
4 days to go: Oscar producers move into the Kodak   2010-03-04
Early voting ahead of Iraq Sunday election begins   2010-03-04
Oil hovers below $81 after 2-day jump   2010-03-04
DA to seek death penalty in US family killings   2010-03-04
Celtics overwhelm Bobcats once again   2010-03-04
30 militants, 1 soldier killed in Pakistan battle   2010-03-04
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region   2010-03-04
SKorea: NKorea crossed border to hunt for defector   2010-03-04
Top Geithner aide in Treasury to step down   2010-03-04
Monterrey Open Results   2010-03-04
Capitals upstage Miller return, beat Sabres   2010-03-04
Godoy Cruz takes lead in Argentina   2010-03-04
AP Interview: Hamas spy unafraid, criticizes Islam   2010-03-04
 
01     02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   Next   >
 
To search for articles form the past seven days, Click on ARCHIVES
  7day free
 
 
TOP

©2010 Taiwan News All Rights Reserved.