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Long, winding road for China´s men to catch up with women at Olympics

Source: Xinhua | 08-21-2008 08:23

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games

BEIJING -- Chinese men are still trekking on a long and winding road to narrow down the medal gap between themselves and the women's team at the Beijing Olympic Games, having reduced the difference in gold medals to 20-25 compared with a more drastic 4-12 at Barcelona in 1992.

Gold medallists Ma Lin (R), Wang Hao (2nd L) and Wang Liqin (L) of China celebrate with their coach after winning their men's team table tennis final against Germany at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008.
Gold medallists Ma Lin (R), Wang Hao (2nd L) and Wang Liqin (L) 
of China celebrate with their coach after winning their men's 
team table tennis final against Germany at the Beijing 2008 
Olympic Games August 18, 2008.

By Wednesday, Chinese athletes have won 79 medals -- including 45 golds at the Beijing Olympic Games. Twenty of the golds went to men and 25 to women. While both have taken seven silvers, Chinese men also lag behind the women with a shortfall of nine bronzes.

"In my country, men and women are equal and we women are able to do everything as well as men," said gold winning weightlifter Chen Yanqing after retaining her 58kg title last week.