Athlete of the Month: China Ladies Team (Indoor Tug of War)
Congratulations to the women’s squad from China in Tug of War – the IWGA Team of the Month for February 2016. The new World Indoor Champions made a powerful statement as the gold medallists in the 540 kg women's event at the 2016 World Championships in the Netherlands.
The experienced Chinese team was just too strong for the other nations competing for the title. The pullers from China are the initial favourites to win the gold medal in July 2017 at the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. The first six teams in this event at the competition in the Netherlands qualified for TWG 2017. The 540 kg event is the only women’s competition in Tug of War on the program of The World Games 2017.
At the World Championships in February, China ended second in the round robin phase of the competition having lost to the Chinese Taipei ladies after the longest pull (3 minutes, 20 seconds) of the weight class. The team however got stronger and stronger as the competition progressed and managed to qualify for the final without many problems thereafter.
During the final, again against Chinese Taipei, they won a hard-fought battle during the first end, winning in 2 minutes and 16 seconds. The second end lasted less than 1½ minutes before the China Ladies triumphed once again, the gold medal now safely in their hands.
The Chinese team also took the World title in the ladies 500 Kg weight class, boosting their confidence even further. One of the Chinese ladies - the 5th puller on the rope, Yanli Hu - was also nominated the best female athlete at the event. China also won the silver medal in the 600 KG Mixed class.
More about Tug of War on The World Games Channel.
Photo Credits: Eddie van Raamsdonk
