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"Rookie" Kan Secures China's 3rd Wushu Gold

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China's Kan Wencong wins the third Wushu gold medal for the hosts at the Guangzhou Asiad in women's Jianshu and Qiangshu Combined on Sunday.

As young as 18, Kan, harvest her first Asian Games champion with 19.70 points in the event with only four players competing for the title.

Zheng Tianhui from Hong Kong scored 19.45 points to cinch the silver, and Lee Wen Jun from Chinese Taipei outcast Japanese Yamaguchi Keiko to claim the bronze with 19.08 points.

Chinese have shown dominance on the sports they founded -- Yuan Xiaochao won the first gold in men's Changquan and Lin Fan realized a "double happiness" to win the women's Nanquan and Nandao combined competition on Satuday.

Though being the youngest of the four players, Kan, showed her undoubted power at the two sets of competitions, namely Jianshu (straight sword art) and Qiangshu (spear art) on Sunday. She won a national silver medal at the event last year.

"It's my first Asian Games, but I'm not nervous. I believe in myself to win and I think I have done a good job," said Kan, now a sophomore on business management.

The teenager, from north China Hebei Province, started to learn Wushu at eight. Her parents thought the strict training would help to improve Kan's health, and more importantly, they hoped, their naughty daughter could learn how to be an obedient good girl.

"I do believe I get more matured through the Wushu training, though I have to get through a really hard process. But it's worthy," said Kan.

More than 140 athletes will compete for 15 gold medals in Wushu, a full contact sport derived from Chinese martial art. The sport comprises Taolu (set routines), and Sanshou boxing (free sparring).

The Chinese are seen the favorites in the 10 events they will participate.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2010)

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