BEIJING, 28 January 2005 — Chinese Olympic and world diving champion Tian Liang vowed yesterday to bounce back into his national team a day after he was dumped from the squad that has dominated the sport for years.
Tian lost his place in the team for cashing in on his Olympic success after winning a gold medal in Athens in the 10 meter synchronized platform and a bronze in the men’s 10m platform events.
“It is so sudden that I’m not in the national team. This is hard for me to take and is difficult to accept,” Tian said in a open letter posted on the Sina.com website, one of China’s leading portals.
“Although I’m no longer in the national team, my love for diving will not change, I will also continue to dive and I will make every effort to return to the national team.”
Tian said he would continue to train under his coach Zhang Ting, who was also removed from the national diving team after the Athens Olympics, and with the Shaanxi provincial team.
“In 2005, the core of my training will be the All China National Games. I will expend all my capabilities in my training and in matches to win the gold medal,” he said.
