German Capousek quits as head coach of Chinese national canoeing team

BEIJING, Jun 25 (Xinhua) -- Josef Capousek of Germany has stepped down as the Chinese national canoeing team head coach only 44 days ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games, according to Chinese canoeing governing body on Wednesday.

Wei Di, director of Water Events Administration Center under China's General Administration of Sports, told Xinhua that the center and Capousek, on the basis of friendly consultation, will terminate their contract on June 30th.

Sun Erjie, head of PLA (People's Liberation Army) canoeing team, will replace Capousek and Xu Jusheng will work as deputy head coach. The other coaching staff members remain unchanged.

Capousek's departure will not affect the team's preparation for the Olympics, which are merely 44 days away, according to Wei.

Capousek began to coach the Chinese team in early 2005 and he was mainly responsible for women's kayak. Before that, he worked as head coach of the German canoeing team and during his 13-year reign, he helped the team win 13 Olympic gold medals and 67 world championships golds.

In the 2007 world championships, the first and major Beijing Olympic qualification tournament, China only qualified in three events, i.e., women's K4 500m, men's C1 and C2 500m. The results were far below the team's expectations.

In the first world cup in Szeged, Hungary from June 5 to 7 in 2008, China settled for sixth place in women's K1 500m, eighth place in women's K4 500m and ninth place in women's K2 500m.

The poor performance gave Capousek a warning that he might step down from his post.

While the second world cup in Dusiburg, Germany in June 13 to 15, actually the last chance for him to showcase his ability to take China to top the Olympic podium, wrapped up with two bronzes going to China's women's kayak but in the absence of canoeing powers like Hungary.

In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, China finished with one gold in men's C2 500m, fourth place in women's K2 500m and seventh place in women's K4 500m.

Now reigning Olympic champions Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun have begun to partner each other again and remain as China's gold hopefuls. Moreover, in the event of men's K4 1000m, China is also hopeful for a medal.