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Student jumper aims new heights
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Yang Yunfei
FEW people would notice a connection between basketball and high jumping, but Zhuang Duifu is certainly among the small handful who do.
"I like basketball and play very often," said Zhuang, fresh from his well-deserved victory at the city's 2000 middle school athletics championship. "It is really of great benefit to improving my high jump skills."
The senior one student of Shatoujiao Middle School stole the limelight by setting a new high jump record of 2.03 metres, shaving one centimetre off the championship's previous best of 2.02 metres set 14 years ago.
Zhuang's intensive training started a year ago when he met his current coach Luo Xiaokui.
"I played basketball and had never be trained as a high jumper before my coach spotted me. Under his guidance, I have improved my personal record from 1.60 metres to 1.80 within half a year," said Zhuang.
He goes to Shenzhen Sports Centre every Friday and Saturday to train.
Asked whether he gets bored training while his classmates go to McDonald's or do whatever they like, the 16-year-old gave replied quickly that he does not.
"I like high jumping," he explained, once again proving that interest is the mother of success.
But Zhuang is not quite satisfied with what he achieved at the championship. He aims to fly higher and expects more in the future.
"My ultimate goal is to clear the height of 2.18 metres. Then I will be awarded the National Master Sportsman title," he said.
He also has his sights set on a ticket to one of China's leading university two years later when he graduates from high school.
To turn his dream into reality in two years, Zhuang said that he works hard to seek a balance between academic work and his high jump training.
"Hopefully, I can get both as I do not want to miss either of them," said Zhuang.
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