Rivalry pushes Chinese sprinting duo to greater heights ahead of the Asian Games
Chinese sprinters Su Bingtian and Xie Zhenye are locked in a fierce but friendly rivalry that is propelling them ever faster – just in time for the Asian Games.
The speedsters have been in ominous form in recent weeks, bringing out the best in each other before the Games in Indonesia, which start on Saturday.
Xie, 24, snatched Su’s unofficial title of China’s fastest man in June when he ran 9.97 seconds in France. Then, just three days later in Madrid, Su, 28, struck back with his lightning 9.91sec to add another chapter to their rivalry.
More significantly, it matched the Asian record set by Femi Ogunode of Qatar three years ago, and made Su the fifthfastest man in the world this year over 100 metres.
Randy Huntington, Su’s American coach, believes the sprinter can go faster still, saying he has the potential to go under 9.80sec.
Su, the world indoor silver medallist who also won silver at the last Asiad, behind Nigerianborn Ogunode, countered: “So now I have a new goal.”
Xie, who remains in the better-known Su’s shadow, tweaked his ankle last month, but is expected to be fully fit for the Asian Games, which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang.
Su has the edge in the 100 metres, but Xie is the man for the 200 metres, setting a new Chinese record in May of 20.16sec.
“We have a very good relationship,” Xie told Spikes, the website and magazine of athletics’ world governing body, the IAAF.
“We all send our best wishes to each other when we compete and even though we are also opponents, I believe that this relationship as adversaries can help us both go faster.”
Adding to the feeling that Chinese sprinting has never had it so good is the form of Wei Yongli, 26, the reigning Games champion who broke the 11-second barrier last month with 10.99sec in the women’s 100 metres.
“Our progress lets more people know that we Chinese can do it in sprinting and lets many athletes in China feel confident and get strength,” Su said.
China are taking the Asian Games seriously, but they are clear that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are the ultimate aim.
“This Asian Games functions as a mid-term test and a valuable experience leading up to Tokyo 2020,” Liu Guoyong, a senior official at the State General Administration of Sport, told the Xinhua news agency.
“It also serves as a comprehensive check on the state of competitive sports in China.”
China will have a squad of 845 competitors and take part in every event in Indonesia, except weightlifting and kabaddi.
They are banned from international weightlifting because of multiple doping violations.
Other Chinese stars at the Games include Sun Yang, the controversial three-time Olympic swimming champion, ageing badminton legend Lin Dan, and Zhu Ting, the star women’s volleyball player.