Teenage curler aims high at Chinese National Winter Games

Wang Yiwa, the youngest curler at the Chinese National Winter Games, has a big aim.

"Hopefully, I can make it to the podium," said the 11-year-old girl, who represents Tacheng of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at the National Winter Games.

Tacheng beat Shihezi 6-4 and Baishan 6-5 Monday in their opening games of the eight-team round-robin competition, but Yiwa was not satisfied with her performance.

"I wasn't in my best shape today. It takes time to acclimatize to the venue conditions here," said Wang, who can be easily spotted on the ice due to her diminutive figure.

"I will try to deliver my best game in the following days."

Wang was introduced to the shuffleboard-like sport three years ago by her father Wang Zhiqiang, a curling coach who owns an amateur curling club in northeast China's Harbin.

"I fell in love with the sport immediately after I tried for the first time when I was eight year old. What attracts me is the teamwork between curlers," she said.

Young as Wang is, she has had quite a few experiences of big events. Her team finished fifth in the national championship last year.

Wang's mother Zhang Yan is also on the Tacheng team, one of the only two amateur curling teams that feature in the quadrennially-held National Winter Games.

"It's the first time that we are on the same team," said Wang. "But she didn't curl well."

Wang Zhiqiang, the interim coach of Tacheng team, believes that engaging in the sport of curling is conducive to Yiwa.

"My daughter is good at academic studies although she keeps playing curling. Even if she cannot become a professional curler in the future, it's good to have a life-time hobby," he said. Endit