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Snowboarding worlds will help develop the sport in China, says coach

Xinhua, March 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

The World Championships of Snowboarding being held in Northeast China's Yabuli international resort will help the development of the sport in China, said Chinese snowboarding team coach Wang Yongtao.

"Our competitive level is far behind that of the foreign countries," said Wang on Tuesday. "Especially in the difficulty degrees of women athletes. We will make specific plans to deal with it and try to reduce the distance."

Although snowboarding is becoming more and more popular in China, there is still lack of professional snowboarders. China only sends five athletes to take part in the World Championships at home which attracted 165 athletes from 23 countries and regions, including snowboarding icon Shawn White and Olympic champion Jamie Anderson.

The championships, organized by TTR Pro Snowboarding and World Snowboard Federation, features halfpipe, slopestyle and big air, which are all Olympic events. The halfpipe event was canceled due to venue problems.

Zhang Yiwei was the only Chinese taking part in the big air but failed to make the semifinals, while in slopestyle, there was no Chinese.

"I think hosting the World Championships will promote snowboarding in China," Wang said. "I see some hope. More and more people get to know snowboarding and it will help us cultivate more talents."

TTR Pro Snwoboarding President Reto Lamm is optimistic towards the sport's development in China.

"I think snowboard in China is very popular. I see a lots of young people like snowboard, and they are crazy about snowboard," said Lamm. "It will be better and better."

Beijing has won the bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Endit