Archive for April 29th, 2009

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Beijing Olympic – Last places for Olympic Games and World Cup Final up for grab in Boe!

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Stage 4 of the Meteksan Archery World Cup, and last qualifying leg, will take place in Boe (FRA) on 23-29 June. The athletes have two big interests: qualify for the Olympic Games and for the World Cup Final in Lausanne (SUI) in September.

Olympic Qualifications

On Thursday 26 June, the last qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games will take place. This tournament is open to all the countries/regions that do not have yet a place at the Games. According to the current situation, this will involve around 75 men from 37 countries/regions and 63 women from 29 countries/regions. Only five spots, each for recurve men and women, are at stake!

2008 World Cup Situation

Previously, the athletes gathered points in Santo Domingo (DOM), Porec (CRO) and Antalya (TUR) and this is their last chance in Boe. Only the top four individual archers per category qualify for the World Cup Final in Lausanne on 27 September. However, only the top three results from the four stages count and only two athletes have secured a place for the Final so far. Almost everything is still possible in Boe and we are looking forward to some very intense matches.

Let’s first recap the World Cup points awarded at each stage:

1st place: 25 points
2nd place: 21 points
3rd place: 18 points
4th place: 15 points
5th place: 13 points
6th place: 12 points
7th place: 11 points
8th place: 10 points
9th place: 8 points, then one point less for each rank until the 16th place

Recurve Men

The cut for 4th place in 2007 was only at 27 points. It will be much higher this time. The four archers currently on top have a good lead over the others. Im Dong Hyun (KOR) –43 points-, Romain Girouille (FRA) -38 points- photo, Rahul Banerjee (IND) -36 points- and Park Kyung-Mo -33 points- should go to Lausanne. However about six archers have still a fair chance if they reach a top 3 rank in Boé: Jayanta Talukdar (IND), Kuo Cheng Wei (TPE), Ilario Di Buo (ITA), Brady Ellison (USA), Viktor Ruban (UKR) and 2007 World Cup Winner Baljinima Tsyrempilov (RUS).

Recurve Women

Two athletes are already qualified for the World Cup Final: Natalia Valeeva (ITA) and Yun Ok Hee (KOR). Last-year cut was at 37 points and although it should get higher, the Olympic Champion Park Sung-Hyun (KOR) is a heavy favourite to qualify. She currently has 36 points. There will be a tough battle for the last spot! Justyna Mopinek (POL) is currently 4th with 29 points. In contention are Natalya Erdyniyeva (RUS), Wu Hui Ju (TPE), Victoria Koval (UKR) and the French favourite Berengere Schuh. Joo Hyun Jung (KOR) has also a mathematical chance, but only two archers from the same category and the same country/region can qualify for the Final in Lausanne.

Compound Men

With two victories (50 points), Sergio Pagni (ITA) is almost certain to qualify for the World Cup Final. Currently on 2nd place, the World Champion Dietmar Trillus (CAN) has 41 points. This is just the cut from last year. Will it be enough? The race will be ferocious as usual in Compound Men. Robert Timms (AUS), Liam Grimwood (GBR), Roberval Dos Santos (BRA), Patrizio Hofer (SUI), Peter Elzinga (NED), Dejan Sitar (SLO), Patrick Coghlan (AUS) and Dominique Genet (FRA) all have a chance!

Compound Women

The cut for 4th place in 2007 was at 52 points. Ivana Buden (CRO) -51 points- and Jamie Van Natta (USA) -49 points- are pretty close to it. With 40 points, Amandine Bouillot (FRA) photo is also in good position. Then four athletes have a decent chance to grab a spot: Camilla Soemod (DEN), Albina Loginova (RUS), World Champion Eugenia Salvi (ITA) and Nichola Simpson (GBR). Two of last year’s finalists, Sofia Goncharova and Anna Kazantseva (RUS) would really need a win in Boe, and some luck, to qualify for the World Cup Final in Lausanne!

Program in Boe

The program in Boe is quite special. It will be the first time the finals are played at night!

23 June: Official Practice
24 June: Qualifications
25 June: Individual matches until semi-finals for the World Cup
26 June: Final Qualifications Tournaments for the Olympic Games
27 June: Team matches until semi-finals
28 June (afternoon): Team finals
28 June (night): Individual finals

Please refer to the schedule page for a detailed program.

With 75 countries/regions and 377 archers, Boe is breaking the participation record for a World Cup! The week will be exciting!

(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)

Posted in Beijing Olympic, China Travel | No Comments »

Chinese Culture – Wang Anyi – a female writer of constant innovations(2)

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Novelist Wang Anyi

According to her character, Wang likes to hide behind her works and keep a distance from the hustle and bustle; even after being elected as chairperson of the Writers’ Association, she has still managed to keep that poise and composure inside.

“I consider literature as sacred. With this attitude, all the other problems can be solved. Meanwhile, I don’t require much in the way of the writing environment – as long as there is a place where I can write.”

Wang usually writes in a small notebook. “I prefer writing by hand rather than by computer. All the words I use are understandable for anyone with at least a junior school education. I usually write in the morning at home, and read in the afternoon. But if there is some noise, like some neighbors decorating their houses, I often go to a coffee bar nearby.”

In the past 20 years, Wang’s works have experienced a lot of substantial changes in style. Even the most acumen critics can hardly categorize her into a certain group or genre.

Fang Fang, a renowned female writer, noted, “The large number of diverse works by Wang are well above the other female writers’ works.”

However, this has caused a small “headache” for the critics. “In the sense of literature criticism, Wang Anyi is the kind of writer who is hard to track. Her novels cover a wide range of subjects. You can never predict what her next subject will be,” said famous critic Liang Yong’an.

Wang Jiren, another renowned critic, concurred, saying, “Just as you are ready to summarize her new work with a theoretic term, and are confident that you have grasped her main style, her next work turns out to be totally different. She is like naughty child who is playing a hide-and-seek game with you.”

Wang herself is at ease with her changing styles. “Previously, some critics did not grasp my style correctly. When I first began to write, I was considered a “children’s literature writer,” while in fact I have only written a few stories about children. Then later, I was deemed as an “educated youth writer,” but I seldom touched on the subject. I think my works gradually matured with my own growth. If there are changes, then they are my maturity and growth. I don’t have dramatic changes like the critics say.”

It is fair to say that Wang’s works have become more unique and mature everyday in the past 20 years. Since the 1990s, Wang’s works have also been more spiritual. Though most of the figures under Wang’s pen are common people, Wang can still find “heroic features” in these people.

Changhen Ge (Song of Everlasting Sorrow ), a winner of the Fifth Mao Dun Literature Award, ranks the most important ofs all of Chang’s works.

“Changhen Ge does not only depict a city, but rather demonstrate a whole new view of a city that could hardly be achieved in the sense of historical research or personal experience. The epic-like approach is rare in the novel circles all over the world,” noted the Sin Chew Daily newspaper.

Despite the disjointed, abundant, and complex details in the novel, the book Changhen Ge is never boring, thanks to Wang’s extraordinary storytelling ability.

When not writing, Wang spends most of her time on reading and contemplating. She reads almost every book she could possibly find, writing down notes and pondering in the process.

“While we stick to our own experience and conclusion, we should understand sincerely and observe other people’s views on life, and enjoy the infinite spiritual landscape in people. When we read books with the trust we have in ourselves, the books will integrate with us, meaning we will in fact reading about ourselves as well,” noted Wang.

（Source: chinaculture.org）

Posted in Chinese Culture, learn Chinese | No Comments »

Cri – Lesson 308

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

In today’s Chinese Idioms, we’ll hear the interesting story behind Lè Jí Shēng Bēi (乐极生悲).

Lè simply means happy. And Bēi just means sad or sorrowful, just the opposite to Lè in fact.

So what is the story behind these two words with contrary meaning?

Let’s have a listen to today’s idiom Lè Jí Shēng Bēi (乐极生悲).

Shanshan: Lè Jí Shēng Bēi 乐极生悲 Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow

Chun Wukun lived in the State of Qi during the Warring States Period (475-221BC). He was erudite, humorous and eloquent. He skillfully advised the king on many occasions and successfully fulfilled the tasks of an envoy to many states.

In the year 349 BC, the State of Chu dispatched a large force to attack Qi. The king of Qi sent Chun Wukun to the State of Zhao to ask for help. Taking with him a lot of valuable gifts, Chun went to Zhao. The king of Zhao gladly sent a hundred thousand troops to help Qi. Hearing the news, the king of Chu withdrew his army that very night.

The King of Qi was spared anxiety and was pleased with Chun Wukun. He gave a banquet for Chun. During the meal, the king asked him, “How much wine can you drink before you’re drunk, Sir?”

Knowing the king had a bad habit of drinking all night, Chun Wukun decided to take this opportunity to admonish him on the matter. So he replied, “I get drunk when I drink ten liters or a hundred.”

The king was puzzled. He said, “Since you are drunk after ten liters, how can you deal with a hundred? Can you explain?”

Chun Wukun listed the different occasions and situations when he had been able to drink varying amounts of wine. Then he said, “This indicated to me that, when you drink to your limit, you get so drunk that you lose your sense of etiquette; once joy reaches its height, then it’s sorrow’s turn. This is a rule for everything, whatever you do, when you exceed the limits, you end up going in the opposite direction.”

Realizing Chun Wukun was trying to advise him, the king said readily, “You’re right. I’ll take your advice.”

From then on, the king gave up his bad habit of drinking.

(Source:english.cri.cn)

Posted in Chinese Lesson, learn Chinese, learn mandarin | No Comments »

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