Yao Ming and LeBron James talk about the rising popularity of basketball in China during a session with fans at the Beijing Olympic Games. Yao Ming’s efforts have helps China become one of the world’s top basketball teams. Altough you may feel the pressure from your Asian parents, that pales to the pressure of a country of over 1 billion people. This is what Yao Ming faces in basketball. (Also fellow countryman Liu Xiang in 100m hurdles.)
Yao Ming talks basketball in China
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The Xiannongtan Sports School in Beijing is regarded as the cradle of China’s Olympic champions. The training facility caters to about 300 athletes in six key sports : table tennis, gymnastics, track & field, women’s soccer, tennis, and weight lifting. Three students have already won gold medals in the Beijing Olympics including He Kexin and Zhang Yining. One of its most famous graduates is Zhuang Zedong, legendary table tennis player who led the so-called ‘Ping Pong Diplomacy’ between China and the US in the 1970s.
China’s Olympic factory – Xiannongtan Sports School
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Under the coaching of “Jenny” Lang Ping the Iron Hammer, the USA women’s volleyball team picked up its first Olympic medal since a bronze in 1992. Brazil was dominant throughout the tournament. The only set Brazil lost was is the final match against the USA. Brazil won 25-15, 18-25, 25-13, 25-21 on Saturday.
Logan Tom led all players with 124 scores (96 spikes, 19 blocks, 9 serves). Robyn Ah Mow-Santos ranked 6th for Setters with 122 running sets and 394 still sets. Although Lindsey Berg is not a starter, she played a key role in the quarterfinals against Italy with her serves leading 8-0 and 5-0 runs. Lindsey also fies up the team. To change the momentum of games, one of coach “Jenny” Lang Ping’s first moves is replacing starter Robyn Ah Mow-Santos with Lindsey Berg. Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Women’s indoor volleyball wins silver
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HAPA Bryan Clay won the Olympic decathlon on Friday, capturing gold in the two-day, 10-discipline event with 8,791 points. The half African-American, half Japanese-American was the 2005 world champion and silver medalist in the 2004 Olympics. Here’s the results of the 10 events he participated in:
100m – 10.44 seconds (rank 1)
Long Jump – 7.78 meters (rank 1)
Shot Put – 16.27 meters (rank 2)
High Jump – 1.99 meters(rank 9)
400m – 48.92 seconds(rank 3)
110m Hurdles – 13.93 seconds (rank 1)
Discus Throw – 53.79 meters (rank 1)
Pole Vault – 5.00 meters (rank 2)
Javelin Throw – 70.97 meters (rank 3)
1500m – 5:06.59 (rank 13)
Total Points – 8791
Bryan Clay joins the ranks of Bruce Jenner and Jim Thorpe as Olympic champions in the decathalon that the Americans have won 12 times in 22 Olympics, but only twice since 1976. Bryan is the first American to win gold since Dan O’Brien in 1996. Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Bryan Clay gets gold in Men’s Decathlon
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The USA softball team lost for the first time since 2000 denying them a chance for a fourth straight gold medal. Japanese pitcher Yukiko Ueno, who pitched 21 innings one day earlier, stunned the USA softball team, who was expected to win gold. The team was defeated by Japan in a 3-1 loss. The American team had several opportunities to bring in runs, but failed to capitalize.
The second baseman, Lovieanne Jung, played 9 games and ended the tournament with a .333 batting average, 7 hits, 5 RBIs, no fielding errors. Lovieanne Jung’s father is Chinese and Lithuanian and her mother is Filipino, Spanish and Hawaiian. Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
This is softball’s final appearance in the Olympic games for at least eight years.
Watch highlights of the Japan vs USA gold medal softball game here.
USA Women’s Softball team win silver
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On Thursday night, the USA women’s soccer team won the Olympic gold by defeating Brazil 1-0 in overtime. The team won gold as the adjusted to a new coach and each other, and the loss of three players to injuries.
Although Natasha Kai only entered the gold medal game as a substitute 11 minutes into overtime, she played a crucial role earlier in the tournament. In the match against Canada, Kai scored a goal in the 101st minute that put the USA Women’s soccer team a 2-1 overtime victory to place them in the medal round. Her goal came as it was raining at the Shanghai Olympic Stadium with lightning flashing nearby. The tattooed soccer player wore one white shoe and one red shoe along with a white headband inscribed with the uniform numbers of three players who were injured shortly before the Olympic Games.
Learn more about Asian Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Gold medal match
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=fb5h-bj-sd26-082108-205003
Natasha goal
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0815_SD_FBW_US_L0556
USA Women’s soccer team scores Gold
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