Gong and Lyu throw down gauntlet to rivals

2019 promises to be a big year for China’s track-and-field throwing stars Gong Lijiao and Lyu Huihui.

After a largely successful past 12 months for the pair, this summer’s world championships loom large on the horizon and look set to go a long way to determining their legacies.

Having bagged gold at the 2017 worlds in London, shot putter Gong maintained her momentum through the 2018 season, with Diamond League victories in Shanghai and Monaco being followed by Asian Games gold in Jakarta in August and a victory at the IAAF Continental Cup in the Czech Republic in September.

On the face of it, Gong should have little to fear at this year’s worlds in Doha, Qatar.

However, the 29-year-old is well aware that the return from maternity leave of some her major rivals, including four-time world champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand, will make retaining her world title that bit harder.

“The 2018 season was quite smooth for me and I achieved my goal,” Gong said recently at Team China’s winter training camp in Beijing. “But if there are no true strong opponents, a victory is not a true victory. Actually, even with my biggest rivals’ present this season, I also won competitions. They’re recovering but I’m still in my prime. I’m confident I can beat them even if they’re in their best condition.”

At 29, though, age is starting to become a factor for Gong, who hails from Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.

“I claimed the world championship title in 2017 and I want to defend it next year and break my record,” said the 1.75m (5-foot-9) star.

“However, two to three years later, with my age, I’ll likely suffer more from my injuries and my career could be tougher. So I want to seize the opportunity and bring more honor to my nation.

“Even after all these years, my technique is still flawed, such as my leg movement. Also, I’m not tall enough. Many of the top female shot putters are about 1.9 meters (6-foot-2). So refining my technique is one of my priorities during this winter training. The other priority is building my physical strength.”

Like Gong, javelin thrower Lyu also had a solid year, claiming gold at the Continental Cup and refreshing the Asian record to 67.69 meters in Halle, Germany, in May.

However, there was disappointment for Lyu at the Asian Games where she had to settle for silver behind compatriot Liu Shiying with a throw of 63.16m.

“The Asian Games result was not ideal for me,” admitted Lyu, a native of Xinxiang in Henan province. “I was aiming for gold with a throw of over 66 meters.

“The Asiad was a big setback for me, and my coach has been trying to help me walk out of that shadow. This winter training is vital for me. My coach has been adjusting my training plan to improve my performance.

“The world championships are a great chance for both me and my coach. I will try to maintain my performance above 66 meters. My goal is to break 68 meters next year.”

AFP