Zhou Chunxiu - 2010 Asian Games Women Marathon Champion

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon

Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)

Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

Defending Champion Zhou Chunxiu from China is first in Asian Games in Guangzhou  2010.

Picture 1 - Women Marathon (Left to Right), Indonesia's Triyaningsih (313), Kim Kum-ok (160) from North Korea, Zhou Chunxiu (154) and Zhu Xiaolin from China (155)

After running 35km kilometres, at the last 7km stretch, China's Zhou Chunxiu started to pull away from the rest of the field in women's marathon. She became the eventual winner at the Asian Games on Saturday, 27th Nov 2010. She also defended her title which she had won in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. 

Picture 2 - Zhou Chunxiu coming in first in DOHA Asian Games 2006

After Doha Asian Games 2006, she surprisingly claimed the London Marathon title in the year 2007 with a time of 2 hr 20 min 38 sec - the fastest time of 2007. She continued her excellent form at the 2007 Osaka World Championships, where she became the only Chinese marathoner to finish on the podium at a world-class level, winning silver.

Picture 3 - Silver in World Championships in Osaka in 2007

Also, Chunxiu, a Beijing Olympics bronze medallist, clocked a season-best of 2hr 25min 00sec, in this Asian Games, with teammate Zhu Xiaolin taking silver (2:26.35) and North Korea's Kim Kum-Ok claiming bronze (2:27.06).

Picture 4 - Zhuo Chunxiu (right) and Zhu Xiaolin (left) are teammates who came in first and second in the Asian Games 2010 women marathon, respectively.

Zhou told the reports that she was sticking to the coaching plan all the way during the race that gave her the victory to Chunxiu and a second placing for Zhu Xiaolin. Chunxiu told, "In the first 30km, we carried out the strategy decided by our coach."

"We worked together so each of us took the lead, in turn, every three kilometres on the basis it would bring honour to our country no matter which of us won the gold medal.

"In the last 10km, the stronger one would take the lead."

Using the coach's strategy, Chunxiu and Xiaolin decided to take a break at the 30km mark in order to drop Kim out of contention of remaining in the pack at the last 10km.

Chunxiu took the cue to push the pace which immediately made Kim lose ground on the two Chinese runners. Xiaolin, from then on, was doing her best to cling on to Chunxiu, as much as she can. At the 40km mark approximately, Xiaolin was already around a minute behind Chunxiu. Relentlessly, Chunxiu kept pushing the pace till the end and finally won the race in 2hrs 25min 00sec, while her fellow country athlete was second with a time of 2hrs 26min 35sec. Kim, doing a time of 2hrs 27min 06sec, from North Korea finished only 31sec from Xiaolin.

Picture 5 - Kim Kum-Ok (2679) from North Korea was second in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

According to Chunxiu, "This has been my best season in terms of results, which is what I expect because I am an experienced athlete with good basic skills." 

"I did quite well in Seoul in March (when she finished second) and here at the Asian Games.

"I had a personal best performance as well as good training performances. The marathon ended a perfect year for me."

Picture 6 - Asian Games 2010 women marathon champion, Zhou Chunxiu

Her coach Liang Songli, a few years back mentioned, "She is really hardworking and can cope under very high pressure. She is also very smart and can always keep a clear mind." Coach Liang Songli had earlier praised Chunxiu for her devotion in training and feels that she is one athlete from China who has come in first in the world arena.

Note:

By Narayanan

Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.