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World Junior Championships Close

World Junior Championships Closes

The 11th IAAF World Junior Championships concluded in the evening of August 20 in Beijing after six day's competition. It was one of the largest sporting events that will be held in the Chinese capital prior to the 2008 Olympic Games.

Over the past six days, more than 1,400 athletes from home and abroad competed in 44 sports under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). One world junior record and ten championship records were broken.

Traditional world track and field powerhouse Kenya finished on top of the medal tally with six gold, six silver and three bronze medals.

Host China followed with 5 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze medals, a better result than in the 2004 championships.

Feng Shuyong, head coach of China's track and field team, says he was satisfied with the performance of the Chinese athletes.

"About 50 percent did their best or even better than their personal best. I'm very happy with this. It's really important for the future of these junior athletes."

However, Feng said the Chinese athletes need to improve their performances if they want to participate in and be competitive in the 2008 Olympics.

"This performance level is still not good enough. Our junior athletes need to make full use of their time over the next two years to improve their performance levels and to make their performances more stable."

With less than two years to go before 2008, the world junior championships were an important rehearsal for the Games in Beijing.

Sergey Bubka, chairman of the IOC's Athletes' Commission, says the championships give China an all-round test for the Olympics. And he believes that the host country will present a successful Games in 2008.

"I don't have any doubt about the success of 2008.Through my visits I can see how they are improving. I don's have any concern. They will show great performance and everything will be ready on time."